Nicola Sturgeon tells of her ‘shock’ and ‘deep distress’ after she was arrested and held for HOURS

A defiant Nicola Sturgeon has told of her ‘shock’ and ‘deep distress’ tonight, after she was arrested and held for seven hours in a police probe involving SNP finances, insisting in an emotional statement she is innocent. 

The former first minister was detained this morning and held in custody while she was quizzed by detectives. Police Scotland confirmed she was released at 5.24pm this afternoon, after being arrested at 10.09am this morning. 

The 52-year-old stood down as both SNP leader and first minister in March this year, since when there have been several dramatic developments in the probe into her party’s spending.

In a shock statement tonight on Twitter this evening, Ms Sturgeon, who said she would be back in Parliament soon, said: ‘I know beyond doubt that I am in fact innocent of any wrongdoing.’ 

‘To find myself in the situation I did today when I am certain I have committed no offence is both a shock and deeply distressing’, she added.  

Ex-first minister Nicola Sturgeon has been has been released following her arrest earlier today as part of the police investigation into the SNP’s finances

Ms Sturgeon’s arrest this morning follows the arrest of her husband, Peter Murrell – the SNP’s former chief executive – in April

In a statement made on Twitter, Ms Sturgeon said that she is ‘innocent of any wrongdoing’  

In her statement Ms Sturgeon said she intends to be ‘back in Parliament soon’ to represent her Glasgow Southside constituents 

Police Scotland said this evening that the 52-year-old had been released pending further investigation into the funding and finances of the SNP

The whereabouts of the first minister are currently unclear, however, members of the press have gathered outside her Glasgow home 

The whereabouts of the first minister remain unclear, however, members of the press have gathered outside her Glasgow home.

It comes after the arrest of her husband, Peter Murrell – the SNP’s former chief executive – in April, just prior to a two-day police search of the couple’s Glasgow home.

This saw a blue forensic tent erected out the front of the property, while officers were spotted scouring both inside the house and outside in the back garden.

Soon afterwards, a luxury camper van – thought to be worth around £110,000 – was seized by police.

Colin Beattie, the SNP’s then treasurer, was arrested later in April and subsequently stood down from his party role.

Ms Sturgeon’s full statement tonight read: ‘To find myself in the situation I did today when I am certain I have committed no offence is both a shock and deeply distressing.

‘I know that this ongoing investigation is difficult for people, and I am grateful that so many continue to show faith in me and appreciate that I would never do anything to harm either the SNP or the country.

Police officers drive their car past the home of Ms Sturgeon following her release. Her whereabouts are currently unknown 

Colin Beattie, the SNP’s then treasurer, was arrested later in April and subsequently stood down from his party role

Police Scotland revealed the arrest of a 52-year-old woman as they provided an update on their ongoing probe

‘Obviously, given the nature of this process, I cannot go into detail.

‘However, I do wish to say this, and to do so in the strongest possible terms. Innocence is not just a presumption I am entitled to do in law.

‘I know beyond any doubt that I am in fact innocent of any wrongdoing.

‘To the many people who have sent messages of support over these past difficult weeks – including since today’s news broke – thank you for your kindness.

‘Thank you also to my close circle of family and friends who are giving me much-needed strength at this time.

‘Finally, while I will take a day of two to process this latest development, I intend to be back in Parliament soon where I will continue to represent my Glasgow Southside constituents to the very best of my ability.’

Police Scotland’s probe, which was opened in July 2021 and is known as Operation Branchform, centres on the spending of £660,000 in donations that had been earmarked for Scottish independence campaigning. 

Providing a fresh update on Ms Sturgeons arrest this afternoon, Police Scotland said: ‘A 52-year-old woman who was arrested earlier today, Sunday, 11 June, 2023, as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party, has been released without charge pending further investigation.

‘The woman was questioned by Police Scotland detectives after she was arrested at 10.09am. She was released from custody at 5.24pm.

‘A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

‘The matter remains active for the purposes of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and the public are therefore advised to exercise caution if discussing it on social media.’

Earlier today, the force announced it had arrested ‘a 52-year-old woman has today, Sunday 11 June 2023 been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party’.

A spokeswoman for Ms Sturgeon, who is MSP for Glasgow Southside, said following her arrest that the former SNP leader voluntarily attended an interview with Police Scotland. 

‘Nicola has consistently said she would co-operate with the investigation if asked and continues to do so,’ they added. 

Both Mr Murrell, who quit as SNP chief executive in March amid a row over the party’s membership numbers, and Mr Beattie were released without charge pending further investigation.

When she announced her resignation as first minister in February, which stunned Scottish politics, Ms Sturgeon denied it was in relation to short-term pressures but said she knew in her ‘head and heart’ that the time was right to go.

She spent more than eight years as first minister, and had previously served more than seven years as deputy to her predecessor Alex Salmond. 

An SNP spokesperson said following her arrest: ‘These issues are subject to a live police investigation.

‘The SNP have been co-operating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so, however it is not appropriate to publicly address any issues while that investigation is ongoing.’

In April, police also spent two days scouring the Glasgow home of Ms Sturgeon and her husband Mr Murrell

 

Police were seen scouring Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell’s garden during their two-day search of the property

Police offices at Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrells home in April this year

The Scottish Tories demanded Ms Sturgeon’s successor, Humza Yousaf, suspend her from the SNP following her arrest.

Craig Hoy, the Scottish Conservative chairman, said: ‘Nicola Sturgeon and other senior SNP figures – including Humza Yousaf – must cooperate fully with this police investigation and commit to full transparency surrounding it.

‘The SNP continue to be engulfed in murkiness and chaos. Humza Yousaf must now show some leadership and suspend his predecessor from the SNP.’

Labour’s shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray said: ‘This is a deeply concerning development and the Police Scotland investigation must be allowed to proceed without interference.

‘For too long, a culture of secrecy and cover-up has been allowed to fester at the heart of the SNP.

‘The same culture that leads to police tents in front gardens created the dysfunctional government that is currently failing Scots.’ 

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: ‘It’s fair to say that today’s events will have huge ramifications both for the SNP and the future of Scottish politics.’

SNP MP Angus MacNeil commented on the matter this morning, calling it a ‘soap-opera’

Joanna Cherry, SNP MP for Edinburgh South West, said it was ‘a sad and difficult day for Scotland’

SNP leader Humza Yousaf vows to make life ‘very difficult’ for a Labour government if Keir Starmer refuses to grant another Scottish independence referendum 

SNP leader Humza Yousaf today vowed to make life ‘very difficult’ for a Labour government if Keir Starmer doesn’t agree to another Scottish independence vote.

The First Minister threatened to block a Labour budget or key legislation at Westminster if Sir Keir’s party were to form a minority government in the event of a hung Parliament.

‘You don’t want to be frustrated at every single corner and every single turn,’ Mr Yousaf said, as he challenged Sir Keir to grant a fresh independence vote in such a scenario.

Labour are continuing to enjoy a sizeable lead over the Tories in opinion polling ahead of the next general election, which is expected next year.

But there has been consistent speculation about how Sir Keir might act if Labour fall short of securing a majority of seats in the House of Commons but end up as the largest part.

Even members of Ms Sturgeon’s own party have commented on the matter.

SNP MP Angus MacNeil wrote on Twitter: ‘This soap-opera has gone far enough, Nicola Sturgeon suspended others from the SNP for an awful lot less. Time for political distance until the investigation ends either way.’ 

Joanna Cherry, SNP MP for Edinburgh South West, said following the former leader’s release: ‘This is a sad and difficult day for Scotland and for my party. 

‘As I have said before I believe passionately in due process, respecting the integrity of an ongoing investigation and the principle of innocent until proven guilty and I shall not be commenting further.’

This morning, prior to news of Ms Strurgeon’s arrest, Mr Yousaf refused to comment on the ongoing police probe into his party during a TV interview.

But the First Minister and SNP leader said he had spoken to Ms Sturgeon recently and said she was ‘in a good place and doing well’.

‘Why would I not want to get some advice from arguably one of the best politicians, the most impressive politicians, Europe has seen over the last couple of decades?,’ Mr Yousaf told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show.

Last month, Scotland’s top police officer Sir Iain Livingstone insisted the probe into the SNP’s finances was ‘proportionate’ and being conducted with ‘integrity’.

In his first public comments on Operation Branchform, Sir Iain stressed the investigation ‘must be allowed to progress without any form of political interference’.

‘Police investigations must be allowed to progress without any form of political interference,’ he said.

‘Under Operation Branchform, a dedicated team of officers from Police Scotland’s specialist crime division continue their investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.

‘A diligent, thorough and proportionate criminal inquiry is being conducted with integrity.’

Sir Iain urged against ‘uninformed speculation’ that could undermine his officers’ work.

It previously emerged police had to wait two weeks before they were given permission to search the home of Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell.

According to a freedom of information request, an application for a search warrant was sent to the Crown Office on March 20 – in the midst of the SNP leadership election to choose Ms Sturgeon’s successor – but was not green-lit and sent to a sheriff until April 3, the week after the contest concluded.

Both the Crown Office and Mr Yousaf – the eventual winner of the race to replace Ms Sturgeon – have stressed that prosecutors act free from political interference.