Peter Murrell police charge 'incredibly difficult' - Nicola Sturgeon

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has described allegations that her husband embezzled funds from the SNP as "incredibly difficult".

Peter Murrell, a former chief executive of the party, was arrested and charged by police on Thursday.

Current first minister Humza Yousaf described the case as "very serious" and confirmed that Mr Murrell had resigned his membership of the SNP.

Mr Murrell had spent 22 years as the party's chief executive.

Ms Sturgeon spoke briefly to the media as she left the home she shares with her husband in Glasgow.

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She said: "It is incredibly difficult, but that is not the main issue here.

"I can't say any more, I'm not going to say any more."

Ms Sturgeon later posted an image of trees on Instagram, writing "#nature" and #walking" alongside the picture.

Mr Murrell was previously arrested as a suspect on 5 April 2023 before being released without charge.

He was arrested again then charged on Thursday after further questioning by officers investigating SNP funding and finances as part of Operation Branchform.

What is embezzlement?

Embezzlement is broadly defined in the criminal law as the dishonest appropriation of entrusted property.

It is sometimes hard to tell the difference between embezzlement and theft - but lawyers say the key difference is that with embezzlement, the accused was trusted to deal with and account for the money or property in question.

It usually involves an allegation of exceeding your authority.

No details of what Mr Murrell is actually accused of embezzling have been made public.

'Serious development'

First Minister Humza Yousaf said it was a "serious, serious development".

He said: "Many people in the SNP and right across Scottish politics will be shocked by the news. This is an ongoing investigation and the police and the crown have a job to do, just as I have a job to do as first minister."

Mr Yousaf said the first he knew of Mr Murrell's re-arrest was when the news broke on Thursday .

He added that Ms Sturgeon and Colin Beattie, the party's former treasurer, who were both also previously arrested, remain members of the SNP.

Police Scotland stated that neither Ms Sturgeon or Mr Beattie have been re-arrested charged, but remain under investigation.

The force launched an investigation into SNP finances in July 2021 after receiving complaints about how donations were used.

Questions had been raised over more than £660,000 in donations given to the party for use in a fresh independence referendum campaign.

When Mr Murrell was arrested last year, police searched SNP headquarters in Edinburgh and the house he shares with Ms Sturgeon in Glasgow.

The couple married in 2010.

Ms Sturgeon was arrested on 11 June when she voluntarily arranged with Police Scotland to be questioned as part of the investigation. She was released without charge.