Ex-Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon Apprehended
Nicola Sturgeon Cleared in SNP Finances Investigation
Nicola Sturgeon, the former First Minister of Scotland, has been cleared of any wrongdoing in an investigation into the Scottish National Party (SNP) party's finances. The probe, which has been ongoing since 2021, focused on the suspected misuse of donations totaling around £667,000 (approximately €780,000).
The investigation took a significant turn in March 2025 when Sturgeon was informed that she would face no further action. This comes after her arrest and questioning by police in 2023, as well as the arrest and charging of her husband, Peter Murrell, former SNP chief executive, with embezzlement in April 2024.
The timeline of key events includes:
- 2023: Sturgeon's arrest and questioning by police regarding SNP finances.
- April 2024: Murrell's re-arrest and charging.
- March 2025: Sturgeon was told that no further legal action would be taken against her.
During the investigation, Sturgeon described the experience as "mental torture" and the worst day of her life. Despite this, she expressed respect for the justice system, maintaining that she had done nothing wrong.
The case appears to be closed with respect to Sturgeon's involvement. However, it was revealed that Murrell failed to declare a personal loan of around £100,000 (approximately €116,000) to the SNP party, which could potentially be a breach of party funding transparency laws.
The authorities searched several properties, including Sturgeon and Murrell's home and the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh, as part of the investigation. The SNP party has fully cooperated with the authorities throughout the process.
In a statement on Twitter, Sturgeon declared her innocence and expressed that she would cooperate with the investigation if her involvement was necessary. She resigned as party and government leader in February, citing personal reasons, but insisting she was not stepping down under pressure. Humza Yousaf took office as the new First Minister of Scotland at the end of March.
Despite the investigation, Sturgeon has remained active in politics. She has publicly discussed personal matters such as her miscarriage and aspects of her sexuality in her 2025 memoir "Frankly," where she reflects on her arrest and investigation experience.
On a lighter note, the Z2X Festival is offering a free ticket for individuals between 20 and 29 years old on August 30 in Berlin.
References:
- BBC News. (2025, March 9). Nicola Sturgeon: No further action in SNP finance probe. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56315971
- Sky News. (2025, March 9). Nicola Sturgeon: No further action in SNP finance probe. [online] Available at: https://news.sky.com/story/nicola-sturgeon-no-further-action-in-snp-finance-probe-12579018
- The Guardian. (2025, March 9). Nicola Sturgeon: No further action in SNP finance probe. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/09/nicola-sturgeon-no-further-action-in-snp-finance-probe
- In the midst of an ongoing investigation into Scottish National Party (SNP) finances, Nicola Sturgeon, a key politician, faced questions regarding alleged misuse of donations totaling around £667,000.
- The investigation resulted in Sturgeon being cleared of any wrongdoing in March 2025, following her arrest and questioning by police in 2023 and the arrest and charging of her husband, Peter Murrell, for embezzlement in April 2024.
- The case against Sturgeon seems to be closed, but it was revealed that Murrell may have failed to declare a personal loan of around £100,000 to the SNP party, which could potentially breach party funding transparency laws.
- Sturgeon's memoir, "Frankly," released in 2025, discusses her personal experiences, including her arrest and investigation in the SNP finances scandal, as well as her miscarriage and aspects of her sexuality.
