Husband Of Nicola Sturgeon Arrested In Connection With Investigation Into Scottish National Party Finances

Husband Of Nicola Sturgeon Arrested In Connection With Investigation Into Scottish National Party Finances

By Ben Kerrigan-

The husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested in connection with an investigation into Scottish National Party finances.

The former SNP chief executive is in custody and is being questioned by detectives.

Peter Murrell, 58, was taken into police custody on Wednesday morning.

There are currently 10 uniformed officers stationed outside the former first minister’s home, alongside one police vehicle and an incident tent in the front garden and at SNP headquarters in Edinburgh.

The SNP said in a statement: “Clearly it would not be appropriate to comment on any live police investigation but the SNP have been co-operating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so.

“At its meeting on Saturday, the governing body of the SNP, the NEC, agreed to a review of governance and transparency – that will be taken forward in the coming weeks.”

A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: “COPFS will continue to work with police in this ongoing investigation.

“It is standard practice that any case regarding politicians is dealt with by prosecutors without the involvement of the Law Officers.”

It comes just a week after Humza Yousaf was legally sworn in as Scotland’s sixth first minister – replacing Ms Sturgeon after her shock resignation in February.

Mr Murrell, who married Ms Sturgeon in 2010, stepped down as SNP chief executive during the recent leadership campaign last month after more than two decades in the post

Police Scotland said officers were carrying out searches at “a number of addresses as part of the investigation”.

Mr Murrell resigned as the party’s chief executive last month, a post he had held since 1999.

He has been married to Ms Sturgeon since 2010.

Ms Sturgeon stood down as first minister last month and was last week succeeded by Humza Yousaf.

 

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