SNP breaks silence as Nicola Sturgeon’s husband resigns after being charged by cops | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Peter Murrell, the previous SNP chief govt and husband of Nicola Sturgeon, has resigned his SNP membership hours after being charged in reference to the embezzlement of funds from his former get together.

Mr Murrell was arrested earlier right this moment, with Police Scotland releasing the bombshell replace this night that he has been charged.

Police Scotland mentioned Mr Murrell was charged at 6.35pm after additional questioning by Police Scotland detectives investigating the funding and funds of the get together.

“A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in due course.The man is no longer in police custody.

“As this investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further.

The SNP have revealed that their former Chief Executive has now resigned his membership of the party.

In a statement the SNP said: “While this development will come as a shock, the police investigation remains ongoing and it would, therefore, be inappropriate to make any comment”.

Mr Murrell was first arrested in April, having run the SNP’s inner affairs for nearly 24 years earlier than quitting after a row in the course of the SNP’s management contest.

The arrest adopted scenes of a number of law enforcement officials turning up on the couple’s Ayrshire house, and erecting tents within the backyard.

Nicola Sturgeon herself was later arrested on 11 June 2023, as a part of Operation Branchform.

Alongside the previous political energy couple, SNP treasurer Colin Beattie was additionally arrested final 12 months.

It’s understood that Police Scotland is trying into whether or not £666,953 of cash raised by the get together since 2017 particularly for a second independence referendum was spent as promised.

The get together mentioned: “All sums raised for independence campaigning will be spent on independence campaigning”.

The police are actually analyzing whether or not the cash was as a substitute spent elsewhere.

Mrs Sturgeon has beforehand denied any wrongdoing, insisting: “Money hasn’t gone missing, all money goes through the SNP accounts independently and fully audited”.

“Every penny we raise to support the campaign for independence will be spent on the campaign for independence.”

A month earlier than the investigation was launched, the get together’s then-treasurer Douglas Chapman stop saying he had not been given sufficient info to do his job”.

A £100,000 motorhome was additionally seized from exterior Mr Murrell’s mom’s house final 12 months.