Nicola Sturgeon is arrested as part of police probe into SNP's finances: Ex-first minister is held in custody as she voluntarily attends interview weeks after arrest of her ex-SNP chief executive husband who was later released pending further investigation
A spokesperson for the ex-SNP leader says she voluntarily attended an interview
By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 14:40 BST, 11 June 2023
Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested as part of the police investigation into the SNP's finances with the ex-first minister being held in custody as she is quizzed by detectives.
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.
A spokeswoman for Ms Sturgeon, who is MSP for Glasgow Southside, this afternoon said 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.
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.
Colin Beattie, the SNP's then treasurer, was arrested later in April and subsequently stood down from his party role
Police probe into SNP finances - what's happened so far
May 2021 – Douglas Chapman resigns from his role as SNP treasurer, saying he had not been given enough information to do his job
July 2021 – Police Scotland confirm they are investigating after seven complaints were made around donations to the SNP. This followed allegations that £600,000 raised for campaigning towards Scottish independence was diverted elsewhere.
August 2021 – As the party's annual accounts are published, new SNP treasurer Colin Beattie acknowledges 'concern' about transparency over independence-related appeals that had raised more than £600,000.
December 2022 – It emerges that Peter Murrell, the SNP chief executive, had loaned the party £100,000 in June 2021.
February 2023 – Nicola Sturgeon suddenly announces her resignation. She says this was not in relation to short-term pressures but because she knew in her 'head and heart' that the time was right to go.
March 2023 – Amid the SNP leadership contest to replace Ms Sturgeon, her husband Mr Murrell announces he is stepping down as the party's chief executive amid a row over the party's membership numbers.
5 April 2023 – Mr Murrell is arrested and is released without charge, pending further investigation, the same day.
9 April 2023 – A luxury camper van is seized by police investigating the SNP's finances, thought to be worth around £110,000.
18 April 2023 – Mr Beattie is arrested and interviewed by police. He subsequently quits as SNP treasurer.
May 2023 – The SNP appoint AMS Accountant Group as their new auditors. Their previous auditors Johnston Carmichael stood down in September 2022.
11 June 2023 – Nicola Sturgeon is arrested. She 'voluntarily' arranges with Police Scotland to be questioned.
Providing a fresh update on their investigation this afternoon, Police Scotland said: '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.
'The woman is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives.'
'A report will be sent to the Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service.'
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.
Police Scotland's probe, which opened in July 2021 and is known as Operation Branchform, centres on the spending of about £600,000 in donations that had been earmarked for Scottish independence campaigning.
An SNP spokesperson said: '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.'
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.'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.
