Sturgeon’s husband arrested by police in probe into SNP finances

Nicola Sturgeon’s husband, Peter Murrell, has been arrested in connection with an investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party, Police Scotland said. There was a heavy police presence outside the home Ms Sturgeon shares with Peter this morning, as well as a major police presence at the SNP’s headquarters in Edinburgh. 

The SNP is currently subject to a police investigation into whether £600,000 earmarked for independence campaigning was diverted elsewhere in 2021.

In a statement, Police Scotland said: “A 58-year-old man has today, Wednesday, 5 April 2023, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.

Ms Sturgeon resigned in February and was replaced by SNP politician Humza Yousaf. 

Mr Murrell – who had been chief executive since 2000 – also stepped down earlier this year for unrelated reasons. 

He said he had planned to step down after the SNP leadership contest had concluded but was doing so earlier than planned because his “future has become a distraction from the campaign”.

Speaking in February, Ms Sturgeon said the “time is right” for her to step down, something she said she knows “instinctively”.

She described her decision to step down as a “duty”. 

Ms Sturgeon said “being First Minister of Scotland is the very best job in the world”, adding that it was “a privilege beyond measure” to be the first female in the role. 

At the time, she denied her decision was a result of “short-term pressures”. 

UPDATES TO FOLLOW…

Source: Read Full Article