Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was arrested on Sunday as part of a Police Scotland investigation into the funding of the Scottish National Party (SNP), according to her spokesperson.
The investigation focuses on the usage of over £600,000 ($750,000) raised by Scottish independence campaigners in 2017, which was intended to be ring-fenced but may have been diverted for other purposes.
In a statement, Sturgeon’s spokesperson confirmed her cooperation with the investigation, stating, “Nicola Sturgeon has attended an interview today, Sunday 11th June, where she was arrested and questioned as arranged with Police Scotland. She has consistently expressed her willingness to cooperate with the investigation, and that commitment remains.”
Police Scotland confirmed the arrest on Twitter, stating that a 52-year-old woman had been taken into custody as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the SNP’s funding and finances. Further details were not provided due to the ongoing nature of the inquiry.
The arrest of Sturgeon, who resigned from her position earlier this year, poses a significant embarrassment for the SNP, a party that advocates for Scottish independence and aims to sever the political union with England.
In response to the arrest, an SNP spokesperson emphasized that the issues were subject to an active police investigation and reiterated the party’s full cooperation. They also stated that it would be inappropriate to comment publicly on the matter while the investigation is ongoing.
In April, Sturgeon’s husband, Peter Murrell, and the former treasurer of the party were both arrested in connection with the same investigation. They were later released without charge pending further inquiries. During Murrell’s arrest, the couple’s residence in Glasgow was extensively searched by the police.
Sturgeon, who served as Scotland’s longest-serving leader of its semi-autonomous government, surprised the political world when she announced her resignation in February, citing concerns about her ability to lead the country to independence due to increasing divisiveness.
