In the governing party SNP, donations of of almost 667,000 pounds (around 780,000 euros) have been embezzled.
(Photo: AP)
Edinburgh A few months after stepping down as Scottish Prime Minister, Nicola Sturgeon has been temporarily arrested in the course of investigations into the finances of the governing party SNP. The 52-year-old was taken into custody on Sunday and questioned by investigators as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation, but was released after just over seven hours.
No formal allegations have been made against them, but investigations are ongoing, Scottish Police said on Sunday evening.
In a statement shortly thereafter, Sturgeon maintained her innocence. Finding herself in the situation she found herself in on Sunday is both shocking and deeply upsetting, said the ex-head of government in the evening on Twitter. “Innocence is not just a presumption that you are legally entitled to. I know without a doubt that I am indeed innocent,” she said. She now needs a day or two to process the latest developments. Then she intends to be back in Parliament soon to continue representing her constituency.
A spokeswoman for the politician had previously confirmed the arrest and stressed that Sturgeon had always made it clear that she would cooperate with the investigation if her participation was necessary. She will continue to do so. The SNP also said it was cooperating fully with the authorities.
The investigations, which have been ongoing since July 2021, are about a possible misappropriation of donations of almost 667,000 pounds (around 780,000 euros) intended for the SNP’s independence campaign.
Sturgeon is a supporter of Scottish independence
Sturgeon is the third high-ranking person who had to be interrogated: Her husband Peter Murrell, who had been responsible for the finances of the SNP for many years, was arrested in April. Two weeks later, SNP Treasurer Colin Beattie was also questioned. He resigned from his position shortly thereafter. Like Sturgeon, both were later released with no charges brought against them. Authorities also searched a number of properties including the home of Sturgeon and Murrell and the SNP party headquarters in Edinburgh.
Sturgeon, a vocal opponent of Brexit, became the face of the Scottish independence movement during her reign. In mid-February, after more than eight years, she surprisingly announced her withdrawal from the leadership of the party and government. At that time there were already allegations against her husband. However, she asserted that she was not resigning under pressure, but because she knew “with heart and mind” that it was the right time for it.
Since the end of March, Sturgeon’s 38-year-old confidant Humza Yousaf has been the new leader of the party and government. Sturgeon remains MP for Glasgow Southside constituency.
Politically, Sturgeon’s arrest is a serious blow to the SNP. Yousaf tried to shift the focus away from arrests and police investigations and back to the party’s policies and visions, BBC correspondent Nick Eardley analyzed. It is inevitable that Yousaf will now have to put up with questions about the arrest and what it means for the party for days on end.
More: How the SNP financial scandal is torpedoing Scotland’s drive for independence