London - Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, a prominent figure in Scottish politics for nearly a decade, was taken into custody on Sunday and questioned by the police in relation to an investigation into the finances of the Scottish National Party, which supports independence. The arrest took place in London. Police Scotland stated that a 52-year-old woman was detained as a suspect regarding the ongoing probe into the funding and finances of the party. After several hours of questioning, she was released without charges, pending further investigation. It is common practice for British police not to disclose the identities of suspects until they are officially charged.
Following her release, Sturgeon expressed her shock and distress at her arrest, emphasizing her innocence. While unable to provide specific details due to the nature of the ongoing process, she firmly asserted her belief in her innocence and the presumption of innocence as a legal right.
The Scottish National Party stated that it has been fully cooperating with the investigation and will continue to do so, refraining from publicly addressing the matter during its ongoing progress.
The investigation, initiated in 2021, focuses on the expenditure of over £600,000 ($754,000) allocated for a campaign advocating Scottish independence. In connection with this investigation, two former SNP officials, Colin Beattie (treasurer) and Peter Murrell (chief executive), were previously arrested and questioned. Similar to Sturgeon, both were released pending further inquiries. Murrell, who is married to Sturgeon, had his home searched by the police following his arrest in April.
It is unusual for a current or former leader of a UK political party to be arrested. The most recent similar case involved Alex Salmond, Sturgeon's predecessor as the first minister, who was arrested in 2019. However, he was acquitted of all charges in January 2020.
Sturgeon unexpectedly resigned in February after leading the Scottish National Party and serving as the first minister of Scotland's semi-autonomous government for eight years. Under her leadership, the party achieved significant success in Scottish politics and transformed from a single-issue party into a dominant governing force with progressive social positions. Sturgeon guided the party through multiple elections and effectively managed Scotland's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, earning praise for her clear communication.
However, Sturgeon left office amid internal divisions within the SNP and the unfulfilled goal of Scottish independence. While a referendum in 2014 favored remaining in the UK, the SNP seeks another referendum, but the UK Supreme Court has ruled that Scotland cannot hold one without the consent of the central government, which has been denied.