Nicola Sturgeon arrested as part of investigation into SNP finances

Police have arrested Scotland’s former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as part of an investigation into the finances of the governing Scottish National Party.

Sunday’s arrest marks a major escalation in a police investigation that has plunged the pro-independence SNP into an unprecedented crisis. Sturgeon, who formally resigned as party leader and first minister in March, is the third person to be arrested in connection with the investigation.

The party’s former chief executive, Peter Murrell, who is also Sturgeon’s husband, and its then-treasurer Colin Beattie were arrested in April and released pending further investigation.

Police Scotland, the national force, said it had arrested a 52-year-old woman on Sunday in connection with an ongoing investigation and the man was being questioned by detectives. A person familiar with the situation confirmed that the person arrested was Sturgeon.

Police are investigating the SNP from 2021 after receiving complaints relating to donations made to the party to fight a future independence referendum.