Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell ARRESTED

Nicola Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell is ARRESTED by detectives probing Scottish National Party funding

The husband of former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has been arersted by detectives investigating the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.

There was a heavy police presence outside the home Ms Sturgeon shares with Peter Murrell, 58, this morning.

The party is subject to a police investigation into whether £600,000 earmarked for independence campaigning was diverted elsewhere in 2021.

The ex-leader faced questions in the weeks before she stepped down over a £107,000 loan from her husband to the SNP, of which he was chief executive during her time in office.

There was a heavy police presence outside the home Ms Sturgeon shares with Peter Murrell, 58, this morning.

Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell married in 2010. Challenged over the loan, the former FM said she ‘can’t recall’ when she first discovered he had given money.

In a statement this morning, Police Scotland said: ‘A 58-year-old man has today, Wednesday, 5 April 2023, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish 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.

‘A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.’

Mr Murrell gave an interest-free loan of £107,620 to the party to ‘assist with cashflow’ on June 20, 2021, Electoral Commission documents show.

A day earlier, the SNP’s national executive committee (NEC) held a meeting, after which treasurer Colin Beattie issued a statement reassuring members that a £600,000 ring-fenced fund would be spent on campaigning for independence.

An investigation was launched in July 2021 after complaints were received. Detectives are looking at claims that cash earmarked for campaigning for a second independence referendum had been diverted.

In January, Police Scotland confirmed it had asked the Crown Office, the Scottish public prosecution service, for ‘advice and direction’ in the case.

The SNP has since been reprimanded by the Electoral Commission for failing to properly declare the loan, having missed three deadlines required for transparency.

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