London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Sturgeon says she had ‘no prior knowledge’ of husband’s arrest in SNP police probe

Sturgeon says she had ‘no prior knowledge’ of husband’s arrest in SNP police probe

Former SNP chief executive Paul Murrell arrested in connection with party funding investigation

Nicola Sturgeon has said she had no prior knowledge of her husband’s arrest as part of a police investigation into SNP finances.

The nationalist party was thrown into crisis on Wednesday morning as Peter Murrell was arrested by Police Scotland.

Later on Wednesday Police Scotland said Mr Murrell has been “released without charge pending further investigation”.

Police Scotland vans surrounded the couple’s home in South Lanarkshire and an investigation tent was erected in their garden.

In a statement on Wednesday evening, a spokesperson for the former SNP leader, who only stood down as Scottish First Minister last month said: “It would not be appropriate to comment on a live police investigation.

“Nicola Sturgeon had no prior knowledge of Police Scotland’s action or intentions.

“Ms Sturgeon will fully co-operate with Police Scotland if required, however at this time no such request has been made.”

The force is understood to be probing the spending of money which was earmarked for Scottish independence campaigning.

Mr Murrell, who married Ms Sturgeon in 2010, stepped down as chief executive of the SNP during the party’s recent leadership campaign, which was sparked by his wife’s resignation in February.

The arrest will be seen as another blow for Scottish nationalists in their bid to see off a Labour revival at the next election following Ms Sturgeon’s resignation.

She was replaced last week by Scotland’s former health secretary Humza Yousaf.

Police Scotland said a man, understood to be Mr Murrell, was in custody and a report was being prepared for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

A police tent at the couple’s home in South Lanarkshire

A force spokesman added: “A 58-year-old man has today been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of theScottish National Party. The man is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives. Officers are also carrying out searches at a number of addresses as part of the investigation.

“The matter is active for the purposes of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and the public are therefore advised to exercise caution if discussing it on social media.”

Police vans near the headquarters of the Scottish National Party in Edinburgh


Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “This is a deeply concerning development and the Police Scotland investigation must be allowed to proceed without interference.

“We need Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon to urgently state what they knew and when.”

The SNP released a statement saying: “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.”

In 2021 police revealed they were investigating allegations that the SNP mishandled hundreds of thousands of pounds raised for independence campaigns that had not yet taken place.

Detectives last year executed a warrant in the investigation into £600,000 of “missing” funds that were raised by the party and a “substantial” number of financial documents were handed to police.

Activists accused the party of wrongly claiming that the cash would only be spent on pro-independence campaigns.

In an emotional resignation announcement in February, Ms Sturgeon said she was standing down after eight years as First Minister because the job “takes its toll on you and all around you”.

She added: “It is only possible to give absolutely everything to a job of this nature for so long.”

But she has denied the police investigation into her husband had anything to do with her decision to quit.

Responding to Mr Murrell’s resignation as SNP chief executive on 18 March, she said he had taken “responsibility for the recent issue with membership”.

She added: “He had intended to stand down when there was a new leader but I think he is right to make that announcement.”

The arrest of Mr Murrell could have a wider impact on the British political landscape as the SNP as tries to fend off a raid on key Scottish seats by Labour at the next general election.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is eyeing a path to power at Westminster which runs through Scotland with pollsters predicting he could pick up 10 seats when Britain goes to the polls. At the moment Labour has only one Scottish seat but has narrowed the SNP’s poll lead to 10 points.

New leader Mr Yousaf already also faces a daunting challenge to reunite his party following his election as First Minister and reviving its administration which has come under fire over the delivery of public services and soaring NHS waiting lists. Mr Yousaf has personally faced sharp criticism for his record as health secretary.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×