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Nicola Sturgeon said the last few days have been “obviously difficult” after the arrest of her husband Peter Murrell amid a police investigation into the SNP’s finances.
Speaking outside her home near Glasgow, Ms Sturgeon said in a brief statement that she understands “the scrutiny that comes on me as a public figure", adding that she intends to “get on with life and my job as you would expect”.
Earlier Mike Russell, the party’s president, said the SNP is facing its biggest crisis in 50 years amid a police investigation into its finances.
On Wednesday Mr Murrell, former SNP chief executive, was arrested by police investigating the spending of around £600,000 which was raised for the Scottish independence campaign. He was later released without charge pending further investigation.
Mr Russell, a former minister, also said he does not think independence can be achieved “right now”.
Breaking: Ex-SNP leader says past few days ‘difficult’ after husband Peter Murrell’s arrest
Former SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has said the last few days have been "obviously difficult" after the arrest of her husband and the party’s former chief executive Peter Murrell amid a police investigation into its finances.
Speaking outside her home near Glasgow, Nicola Sturgeon said in a brief statement that she understands "the scrutiny that comes on me as a public figure", adding that she intends to "get on with life and my job as you would expect".
SNP facing biggest crisis in 50 years, says president
A senior figure in the SNP has said the party faces its biggest crisis in 50 years amid the police investigation into its finances.
Mike Russell, the SNP president and a former minister, also said he does not think independence can be achieved “right now”.
On Wednesday, former chief executive Peter Murrell was arrested by police investigating the spending of around £600,000 which was earmarked for an independence campaign.
Mr Murrell, who is Nicola Sturgeon’s husband, was released on Wednesday evening without charge pending further investigation.
Police searched their home in Glasgow for more than a day, with uniformed officers also searching the SNP’s headquarters in Edinburgh.
In an interview with The Herald newspaper, Mr Russell said recent weeks had been “wearing” for the SNP, which recently selected Humza Yousaf to succeed Ms Sturgeon as party leader.
He said: “In my 50-year association with the party this is the biggest and most challenging crisis we’ve ever faced, certainly while we’ve been in government.
“But I have an obligation to this party and the movement for Scottish independence that’s been such a massive part of my life for so long.”
He continued: “I don’t think independence can be secured right now; we need to work towards some coordinated campaigning.
“But I think this is achievable. My main focus is how we can create a new Yes movement that allows for different visions but conducted in an atmosphere of mutual trust.”
Mike Russell, who stepped in to replace outgoing Peter Murrell, said there is a tremendous mess’ in the SNP
Watch: Ex SNP leader’s comments to reporters
Sturgeon statement in full following husband’s arrest
Nicola Sturgeon has vowed to “fully cooperate” with police after the arrest of her husband, the SNP’s former chief executive, during an investigation into party finances.
In her first public comments since Peter Murrell’s arrest, former first minister Ms Sturgeon said recent days had been “obviously difficult” as she gave a short statement outside the couple’s Glasgow home on Saturday.
The former SNP leader said she could not comment on the investigation into the spending of around £600,000 which was earmarked for an independence campaign, “as much as there are things I may want to say”.
Nicola Sturgeon gave a brief statement to the media outside her home in Uddingston, Glasgow (Jane Barlow/PA)
Future of the SNP? Don’t ask me, says Sturgeon
Nicola Sturgeon has said her successor Humza Yousaf can “speak for himself” about whether the governance of the SNP was as good as it should have been under her leadership.
Asked about the incumbent first minister’s plans to commission a wide-ranging review of the SNP‘s governance and transparency, she said: “I’ll let Humza speak for himself.
“You may not be too surprised to know that I’ve not been focusing too much on every sentence and word that’s been uttered by other people this week.
“I’ve had other things on my mind. Other people can speak for themselves, you know me well enough to know that I can speak for myself. Unfortunately, there is a limit to what I can say to you right now.”
Sturgeon speaks to reporters earlier today
Nicola Sturgeon breaks silence over husband Peter Murrell’s arrest
Nicola Sturgeon asked for a “little bit of privacy in my own home” as she broke her silence following the arrest of her husband Peter Murrell in a probe of SNP finances.
Speaking outside her house near Glasgow on Saturday afternoon, the former first minister said: “The last few days have been obviously difficult, quite dramatic at times, but I understand that is part of a process.”
Mr Murrell, a 58-year-old senior SNP figure, was arrested on Wednesday morning in connection with a long-running Police Scotland investigation into the spending of about £600,000 which was raised for Scottish independence campaigning.
Get the latest on the SNP probe below:
Recap: Who is Peter Murrell? Nicola Sturgeon’s husband arrested over SNP finance probe
For almost a decade Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon were the husband and wife team in charge of the SNP.
But now Mr Murrell is at the centre of an SNP finance investigation and has been arrested by Police Scotland in connection with the ongoing probe into the party’s financing.
Thomas Kingsley reports:
ICYMI: ‘No conspiracy over arrest timing’ says Yousaf – but questions grow for SNP
Claims that the SNP and police were “in cahoots” over the timing of Peter Murrell’s arrest have been dismissed as a conspiracy theory by new party leader, Humza Yousaf.
Police detained Mr Murrell and searched the home he shares with his wife Nicola Sturgeon as part of an investigation into how £600,000, earmarked for an independence campaign, was spent.
Archie Mitchell reports:
Sturgeon: I’ve not been quizzed by police
Nicola Sturgeon has revealed she has not been quizzed by police following her husband’s arrest over the handling of SNP finances.
When asked at a press conference if she had been questioned, the former first minister said: “I haven’t but I will fully cooperate with the police … if they do.”
She would not comment further.
‘Peter’s not able to say anything'
Nicola Sturgeon has said her husband Peter Murrell is "not able to say anything" about his arrest in an investigation into SNP finances.
Mr Murrell, who is the party’s former chief executive, was arrested on Wednesday.
Ms Sturgeon told reporters outside her Glasgow home: "Peter’s at home as you would expect it to be. Peter’s not able to say anything.
"Again, that’s not necessarily a matter of choice. That’s just the nature of this."
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2023-04-08 20:25:49Z
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