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Sabtu, 08 April 2023

Nicola Sturgeon – latest: Ex-SNP leader says past few days ‘difficult’ after husband Peter Murrell’s arrest - The Independent

Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell arrested in SNP finance probe

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”.

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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".

Matt Mathers8 April 2023 14:52

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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.”

<p>Mike Russell, who stepped in to replace outgoing Peter Murrell, said there is a tremendous mess’ in the SNP </p> — Mike Russell, who stepped in to replace outgoing Peter Murrell, said there is a tremendous mess’ in the SNP
(PA Archive)

Sam Rkaina8 April 2023 21:25

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Watch: Ex SNP leader’s comments to reporters

Nicola Sturgeon marks 'difficult' few days after husband's arrest

Sam Rkaina8 April 2023 20:30

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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”.

<p>Nicola Sturgeon gave a brief statement to the media outside her home in Uddingston, Glasgow (Jane Barlow/PA)</p> — Nicola Sturgeon gave a brief statement to the media outside her home in Uddingston, Glasgow (Jane Barlow/PA)

Sam Rkaina8 April 2023 19:30

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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.”

<p>Sturgeon speaks to reporters earlier today </p> — Sturgeon speaks to reporters earlier today

Liam James8 April 2023 18:40

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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:

Liam James8 April 2023 17:30

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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:

Matt Mathers8 April 2023 16:40

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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:

Matt Mathers8 April 2023 15:40

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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.

Matt Mathers8 April 2023 15:16

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‘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."

Matt Mathers8 April 2023 15:10

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2023-04-08 20:25:49Z
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Hospitals in frantic dash to fill gaps left by doctors' strike - The Guardian

Hospital trusts are taking desperate measures to limit the predicted loss of life from this week’s NHS strikes – including threatening consultants who refuse to do extra work, and tempting junior doctors to cross picket lines by increasing locum pay – as fears grows that many wards could be left without medical cover.

NHS leaders and senior clinicians fear the four-day walkout by junior doctors – starting at 6.59am on Tuesday and continuing until 6.59am on Saturday – will lead to the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of operations and appointments, while putting seriously ill patients at greater risk.

Hospital trusts are also accelerating the discharge of the fittest patients and have cancelled leave for non-striking doctors in order to plug the gaps caused by tens of thousands junior doctors walking out.

One senior consultant at a London trust told the Observer she had been threatened with not being paid if she refused to be redeployed into areas outside her specialised field. “There is a huge amount of bullying going on,” she said. In London, many consultants are understood to be refusing to do extra shifts during the strike because their trusts will not offer the rates of pay recommended by the British Medical Association.

In order to tempt junior doctors, whose pay can be as low as £14 an hour, rates for locums are also being increased. One trust is offering those willing to cross picket lines £86.22 per hour for locum night shifts – 50% more than its normal locum rate, according to a rate card sent to staff and posted online by the BMA.

Recruitment agencies are also offering escalated pay to junior doctors on the four strike days this week. Job ads from an agency in Nottingham said those willing to work day shifts would get up to £70 per hour, with the agency charging its fee to the NHS on top.

Junior doctors are asking for a 35% pay rise to “reverse the steep decline” they have faced after years of below-inflation pay rises. The BMA says that since 2008/9, they have had a real-terms pay cut of 26%, and they are now seeking “full pay restoration”. They also want to agree a mechanism to prevent future declines of their pay against the cost of living, and to reform the pay review process.

With less than three days to go before what is widely expected to be the most damaging strike in NHS history, the government and the BMA remained deadlocked last night, with ministers refusing to make any offer on pay to the junior doctors until they agreed to call off the strikes.

In a clear attempt to turn public opinion against the striking doctors, a senior government source claimed the BMA’s negotiators were inexperienced and impossible to deal with, and accused it of having an anti-government agenda. “They are not professional negotiators. They just want to bring the government down,” the source said.

The junior doctors insist it is up to the health secretary, Steve Barclay, to make them a “credible” offer. “We are ready to get round the table, so make a credible offer to start negotiations and stop the strikes,” the co-chairs of the BMA junior doctors committee, Dr Vivek Trivedi and Dr Rob Laurenson, said.

With up to a quarter of a million appointments and operations expected to be postponed, the NHS Confederation warned that “many aspects of patient care” were “resting on a knife edge”. Dr Layla McCay, director of policy, said the industrial action was set to be “the most significant in a decade”.

Miriam Deakin, director of policy at NHS Providers, said staff had been working “flat out to discharge patients safely and minimise demand on pared-back frontline staff’’. “This is normal practice ahead of any bank holiday weekend, but the four-day junior doctors’ strike inevitably makes this task more urgent,” she said.

Last week, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust was criticised after introducing a competition handing out Easter chocolates to teams that discharged patients the quickest. The trust has since apologised, saying incentives had “no place” in influencing clinical decisions.

The timing of the strikes has further exacerbated the staffing pressures, with many consultants and non-striking doctors who might normally be drafted in not available due to the Easter holidays. One trust said it had cancelled all leave but was still likely to have some wards with no medical cover.

The chief executive of another NHS trust said: “We are in the territory of asking already-tired people to consider cancelling their holiday and we pay for all of the abortive costs. Those with families almost certainly won’t, as they can’t rearrange out-of-school holidays.”

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Last night the Tory MP and former health minister Dr Dan Poulter, who works part time as an NHS psychiatrist said: “Both the BMA and the government need to drop hostilities and urgently get back round the negotiating table. The only losers from the current deadlock are patients and if matters are not resolved soon, the NHS will take years to recover.”

He added: “Given the high hourly rate of pay for consultants working extra hours to cover the strikes, and the eye-watering fees charged by medical locum agencies, hospital finances, which are often not well-managed by trust boards at the best of times, will be pushed further into the red. This will reduce the money available for patient services and for the NHS to reduce the ever-growing waiting lists caused by the Covid pandemic.”

In London, one trust warned patients of a “very challenging week ahead”, with a “double whammy” of strikes and the Easter Monday bank holiday expected to “ramp up pressures” at its hospitals.

Dr Richard Jennings, group chief medical officer for St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals, said that during the first junior doctors’ strike last month, an average of 330 doctors were absent across its group each day. This led to more than 3,000 appointments being rescheduled and nearly 500 patients being directed away from its emergency departments over the three days of action. “The strikes had a significant impact on our services last month and we expect it to be as challenging – if not more so – this time round,” he said.

The offer of short-term higher rates for junior doctors willing to work on strike days was criticised by a representative of the British Medical Association, which says “fair rates” should be standard. Shivam Sharma, from the West Midlands BMA Regional Junior Doctor Committee, urged colleagues to “hold the line”.

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2023-04-08 18:36:00Z
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UK weather: Easter Sunday could be warmest day of year at 18C - The Guardian

Widespread sunshine and temperatures as high as 18C could make Easter Sunday the UK’s warmest day of the year so far.

Forecasters said high pressure moving across the UK had “timed itself nicely”, with sunny weather expected over the bank holiday weekend.

At 18C, the country could be warmer than some Greek islands – including Santorini, Mykonos and Crete – all usual Easter holiday destinations.

The Met Office warned people in the UK not to underestimate the strength of the sun, with UV levels as strong as the “back end of summer”, carrying the risk of sunburn.

However, rain will arrive in Northern Ireland on Sunday, before sweeping across the rest of the country on bank holiday Monday, which is described as the “day to do anything you want indoors”.

Craig Snell, a Met Office forecaster, told the PA news agency: “Saturday is going to be another fine day for the vast majority. However, some of the eastern coast of Scotland and north-eastern England will remain disappointingly grey.

“Inland, the sun will be shining for a lot of the UK and it’s going to be a relatively reasonable Saturday out there; temperature-wise in the sunshine it will feel pleasantly warm, reaching as high as 17C in some parts.

“Then on Easter Sunday for a good chunk of the UK it’s going to be fairly reasonable, the only place we’ll probably see a change is Northern Ireland where it’ll turn increasingly breezy, cloudy and eventually damp.

“But for the most part it will be fairly sunny and temperatures may peak at around 18C – so, pleasantly warm out there.”

That would set a new warmest day for 2023, exceeding the current highest temperature of 17.8C on 30 March in the village of Santon Downham, Suffolk.

It comes as an estimated 2 million British holidaymakers head overseas during the Easter bank holiday weekend, according to travel trade organisation Abta, which calculated the figure.

Snell continued: “It’s a bank holiday weekend, so the weather has timed itself nicely really because it looks like it’s going to turn wet and windy as we go into next week.

“People can enjoy the early spring sunshine, but even though it’s not really warm the sun is still strong – it’s as strong as it is towards the back end of summer now.

“Just be careful if you’re out for a long time, you can easily get sunburned out there. This time of year catches a lot of people out.

“But it’s not going to last too long. Monday is certainly going to be that day of change, as low pressure starts to dominate the scene. With blustery showers it’s the day to do anything you want indoors.”

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2023-04-08 08:45:00Z
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Boy, 12, due in court charged with murder after grandmother hit by car in Sheffield - Sky News

A 12-year-old boy is due to appear in court today, charged with murder following the death of a 60-year-old grandmother who was hit by a car.

Marcia Grant suffered fatal injuries in the incident, which happened in the Greenhill area of Sheffield on Wednesday evening.

Emergency services were called to reports of a collision between a car and a woman at 7.10pm, South Yorkshire Police said.

Mrs Grant, thought to be a social worker, was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts to save her life.

The boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was charged with murder on Friday and is expected to appear before magistrates at the city's youth court later today.

Floral tributes have been placed outside a semi-detached house in Hemper Lane in Sheffield, which has been cordoned off by police, with one message describing Mrs Grant as a "beautiful soul".

The 60-year-old was hailed as a "pillar of the community", by her family, who described her as a "warm, loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend".

"Her loss has already sent shockwaves through all who knew her or was lucky enough to be included in her orbit," they said.

Dozens of people have paid tribute to Mrs Grant on social media, with one post describing her as "a lovely woman who took time out of her life" to care for children. Another paid tribute to a "beautiful person" who was "gentle and funny".

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2023-04-08 08:14:03Z
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