The former Scottish Prime Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, assured Sunday June 11 to have “committed no crime”, after seven hours of police custody in Glasgow (United Kingdom) as part of an investigation into the finances of his political party, the Scottish National Party (SNP).
“Finding myself in the situation I was in today, despite being convinced that I have committed no crime, is both shocking and very distressing,” she said in a statement to the from his custody. “I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am innocent of any wrongdoing,” she said.
The detention of Ms. Sturgeon, who resigned as prime minister in February, is a new blow to the SNP, weakened since the surprise departure of its charismatic leader, who remained in power for eight years.
“A 52-year-old woman was arrested today, Sunday 11 June 2023, as a suspect in the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party, Police Scotland said in the statement. afternoon. The woman has been taken into custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland. »
Police have not released the identity of the former prime minister but a spokeswoman for Ms Sturgeon, quoted by the PA news agency, confirmed her arrest. This relative of the former leader claimed that the latter went voluntarily to an interview with the police, “during which she was to be arrested and questioned”. “Nicola has always said that she would cooperate with the investigation (…) and she continues to do so”, continued this spokesperson.
Donations of £600,000
Searches were carried out at several properties, including the home of Ms Sturgeon and her husband, Peter Murrell, where a police tent was erected in the garden, and the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh, according to the PA news agency. At the beginning of April, Mr. Murrell, who until mid-March was director general of the SNP, was arrested in connection with this investigation, before being released the same evening without prosecution. A few days later, SNP treasurer Colin Beattie was arrested. He was also released without charges being brought against him.
The investigations then focused in particular on the use of donations of 600,000 pounds sterling (683,000 euros) collected in recent years with a view to organizing a new independence referendum, a project at an impasse in the face of rejection from London. The media also raised questions about a loan he would have paid to the party.
The weakened SNP
After eight years at the head of Scotland and, in total, fifteen years in positions of responsibility in the local executive, Nicola Sturgeon announced his resignation in mid-February to everyone’s surprise, explaining that he lacked energy. During all these years in power, she fought for independence with determination.
The party, weakened by this departure, also emerged divided from the internal campaign which resulted in the appointment as prime minister of Humza Yousaf, 38, in March. The first Muslim leader to head one of Britain’s constituent nations, Mr Yousaf is seen as embodying continuity with Ms Sturgeon, with a progressive line on societal issues and a leftist sensibilities on the economy.
Speaking to the BBC, Humza Yousaf reiterated on Sunday morning that he would be “the leader who will ensure that Scotland becomes an independent nation”. But this fight, a time revived by Brexit and the unpopularity of successive Conservative governments in London, seems to be at an impasse. The Supreme Court rejected Edinburgh’s desire to hold a new referendum without London’s agreement, after the vote that resulted in a 55% no victory in 2014.
