By JILL LAWLESS (Associated Press)
LONDON (AP) — Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who dominated politics in Scotland for nearly a decade, was arrested Sunday by police investigating the funds of the governing, pro-independence Scottish National Party.
Police Scotland mentioned a 52-year-old lady was detained “as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.”
“The woman is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives,” the pressure mentioned, with out naming Sturgeon. British police don’t determine suspects till they’re charged.
A spokesperson for Sturgeon mentioned the previous first minister voluntarily attended an interview with police and would cooperate with the pressure’s investigation.
The SNP mentioned the occasion had been “cooperating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so. However it is not appropriate to publicly address any issues while that investigation is ongoing.”
Scottish police have been investigating how 600,000 kilos ($745,000) designated for a Scottish independence marketing campaign was spent.
Two former SNP officers, Colin Beattie, who was treasurer, and Peter Murrell, who was chief govt, have been beforehand arrested and questioned as a part of the investigation. Neither has been charged.
Murrell is Sturgeon’s husband, and police searched the couple’s residence in Glasgow after his arrest in April.
Sturgeon unexpectedly resigned in February after eight years as Scottish National Party chief and first minister of Scotland’s semi-autonomous authorities. She mentioned that it was the proper time for her, her occasion and her nation to make method for another person.
The first feminine chief of Scotland’s devolved authorities, Sturgeon led her occasion to dominance in Scottish politics and refashioned the SNP from a largely one-issue occasion right into a dominant governing pressure with liberal social positions.
She guided her occasion throughout three U.Okay.-wide elections and two Scottish elections, and led Scotland via the coronavirus pandemic, profitable reward for her clear, measured communication model.
But Sturgeon left workplace amid divisions within the SNP and along with her primary aim — independence from the U.Okay. for the nation of 5.5 million folks — unmet.
Scottish voters backed remaining within the U.Okay. in a 2014 referendum that was billed as a once-in-a-generation choice. The occasion desires a brand new vote, however the U.Okay. Supreme Court has dominated that Scotland can’t maintain one with out London’s consent. The central authorities has refused to authorize one other referendum.
Sturgeon’s departure unleashed a tussle for the way forward for the SNP amid recriminations over the occasion’s declining membership and divisions over the most effective path in direction of independence.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”