GLASGOW, SCOTLAND (EPICSTORIAN) – Nicola Sturgeon is no longer under investigation in the Scottish National Party (SNP) finance probe, according to Police Scotland.
The former First Minister confirmed her exoneration, stating, “I am completely in the clear.”
Her husband, Peter Murrell, the SNP’s former chief executive, appeared in Edinburgh Sheriff Court on charges of embezzlement, a report by BBC cited.
A private hearing was held, during which Murrell made no plea. He was granted bail, and the case will proceed under Scotland’s legal system.
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The probe into SNP finances, launched in July 2021, examined allegations of misused party funds. Former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie, who was also questioned during the investigation, has been cleared of suspicion.
Beattie acknowledged the prolonged nature of the inquiry, saying, “I knew I had done nothing wrong, but two years is a long time to wait for the truth.”
The Crown Office confirmed Murrell’s formal charge, allowing his legal team access to the case files. Under Scottish legal procedures, prosecutors must bring the case to trial within 18 months of charges being filed.
John Swinney, Scotland’s First Minister, responded to developments, stating that the SNP itself was an “alleged victim of embezzlement.”
He emphasized the importance of “strong governance and financial oversight” moving forward.
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The conclusion of the investigation removes a legal concern for Sturgeon as she steps away from political life. She recently announced that she will not seek re-election to Holyrood, shifting her focus to writing her memoirs.
Murrell’s legal case continues, while Sturgeon maintains her position that she was never involvedin any wrongdoing.
