Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon cleared in police investigation into SNP’s finances
Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon is no longer under investigation by Police Scotland amid a probe into the SNP’s funding and finances.
Meanwhile, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, who is separated from Ms Sturgeon, has appeared in court charged with embezzlement.
Speaking outside her home on Thursday, Ms Sturgeon said she was “completely in the clear”, adding: “That is the outcome I would always have expected.
“As I have said to all of you many times, I have done nothing wrong. So, I was confident of reaching this point and getting to this outcome, but obviously it is a relief now to have that confirmed.”
Ms Sturgeon speaking to the media outside her home on Thursday afternoon. Pic: PA
Ms Sturgeon said for almost two years she had “this cloud of investigation” hanging over her.
She added: “I think it won’t surprise anybody to hear me say that it’s not been an easy experience, so to reach this point today is obviously something I am relieved about.
“I’ve been trying to get on with my life and I now intend to do that.”
Pic: PA
Responding to Sky News’ Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies, Ms Sturgeon said she was limited in what she could say about an active police investigation.
But she added: “All I can say is that I have done nothing wrong and I don’t think there was ever a scrap of evidence that I had done anything wrong.”
Ms Sturgeon described herself as a “stronger person today” than she was when it all “kicked off”.
She added: “That said, I wish none of it had happened.”
Ms Sturgeon said she had “exciting things coming up” including the publication of her book, which is titled Frankly and is set for release on 14 August.
Murrell made no plea to the single charge when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court earlier in the day.
The 60-year-old was granted bail with his next court appearance yet to be confirmed.
Murrell, who had been SNP chief executive since 1999, resigned in March 2023 amid a row over party numbers.
The following month he was arrested under Police Scotland’s long-running Operation Branchform and was subsequently charged a year later with embezzling SNP funds.
The probe, which has been ongoing since July 2021, is linked to the spending of around £600,000 raised by SNP supporters to be earmarked for Scottish independence campaigning.
Ms Sturgeon and ex-party treasurer MSP Colin Beattie were also arrested and released without charge as part of the investigation.
Mr Beattie has now been cleared alongside Ms Sturgeon.
MSP Colin Beattie. Pic: PA
In a statement posted online, Mr Beattie said he was “absolutely delighted” to be cleared of all suspicion.
The MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh said: “While there was no question in my mind that I had done nothing wrong, the fact is that it created a question among those who do not know me.”
Mr Beattie thanked all those who offered support to both him and his wife.
He added: “Now, I intend to share a glass of something with my wife tonight, and tomorrow I can focus on the future as I put myself forward for consideration as the SNP candidate for the Midlothian North county constituency.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said the probe into Ms Sturgeon and Mr Beattie had concluded and both were no longer under investigation following direction from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).
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However, COPFS has warned that the case against Murrell is active under the Contempt of Court Act 1981.
A spokesperson said: “Anyone publishing items about active cases is advised to exercise caution as material must not be commentary or analysis of evidence, witnesses or accused.
“Contempt of Court carries penalties of up to two years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.”
COPFS said prosecutors and independent counsel are dealing with Murrell’s case without involving Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC or Solicitor General Ruth Charteris KC.
The spokesperson added: “All Scotland’s prosecutors operate independently of political influence.
“Where allegations are made against people or institutions in which the public have placed trust, it is the responsibility of the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to determine if there is evidence that criminal conduct has occurred.
“We understand public curiosity about this investigation. However, the Crown does not publicly share details of confidential inquiries where there are no proceedings in court.
“This protects the rights of the individuals concerned who are entitled to a presumption of innocence.”
In January, Ms Sturgeon announced she had split from Murrell.
The pair, who first met via the SNP in 1988 and became a couple in 2003, married in 2010.
The Glasgow Southside MSP announced the separation in a post on Instagram, revealing they had been “separated for some time now” but “still care deeply for each other, and always will”.
And just last week, Ms Sturgeon announced she will not seek re-election to Holyrood next year.
She said: “I have known in my heart for a while that the time is right for me to embrace different opportunities in a new chapter of my life.”
Liverpool have won the Premier League title after a 5-1 victory over Tottenham at Anfield.
Arne Slot’s men did it in impressive style, turning over Spurs in a convincing win.
It was a rocky start for the Reds after Dominic Solanke put the north London side ahead.
However, fortunes quickly changed in the first half as Liverpool scored three times without a response.
Captain Virgil van Dijk (centre) celebrates. Pic: Reuters
Salah on his knees in celebration after the final whistle. Pic: AP
Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott (below) and Jarell Quansah celebrate after full-time. Pic: PA
Slot cheers after the full-time whistle. Pic: AP
In the second half, it took until the 63rd minute for Mohamed Salah to make it 4-1 before a fifth followed.
The Reds have won the title in manager Arne Slot’s first season in charge, and move level with fierce rivals Manchester United on 20 league championships.
But it makes them arguably the most successful English club ever as they have won more European Cup or Champions League titles.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk told Sky Sports after the final whistle: “It’s special and it’s something that we don’t take for granted. It’s amazing.
“A lot of emotions before the game, during the whole week, but we got the job done and we (are) truly deserved champions of England. (Liverpool is) the most beautiful club in the world and I think we deserve all of this. Let’s enjoy the next couple of weeks and let it sink in.”
Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas poses with a Premier League trophy cut out. Pic: Reuters
Manager Arne Slot and his team after the final whistle. Pic: AP
Slot took over last summer from Jurgen Klopp, who guided them to their previous and maiden Premier League title triumph in 2020, when the COVID-19 lockdown saw matches played behind closed doors.
He is the first Dutch manager to win the Premier League and the fifth man to do so in a debut campaign after Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Manuel Pellegrini, and Antonio Conte.
Speaking to Sky Sports he said: “They [the players] did an outstanding job today. The main job was to win. Everyone said we had got it already. But we had to make sure and we got over the line.”
Several players, including Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah, played leading roles in both the 2025 and 2020 campaigns.
Van Dijk and Salah recently signed new contracts extending their careers at the club.
Mohamed Salah takes a selfie with fans after scouring the fourth Liverpool goal. Pic: AP
Fans at Anfield during the game. Pic: AP
Fans in the stands at Anfield before full-time. Pic: Reuters
Liverpool will have to wait until the final game of the season – at home to Crystal Palace on 25 May – to be presented with the Premier League trophy.
It will be the first time the club’s fans will have seen their side lift the top-flight title in person since 1990.
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Two pro-Palestinian demonstrators have thrown red powder on Tower Bridge – just moments before leading runners in the London Marathon went past.
The protesters were arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance and remain in custody, said the Metropolitan Police.
A video shared by Youth Demand, which is calling for a trade embargo on Israel, shows two people jumping over a barrier that separates spectators from the race course.
The pair, wearing t-shirts that say “Youth Demand: Stop Arming Israel”, are then seen standing in the middle of the road on the bridge.
Pic: LNP
They throw red powder in the air as an official marathon car goes past displaying the race time.
A motorbike with a cameraman on board continues along the route, while a second motorbike stops and one of the riders gets off and pushes the pair out of the way, just before the men’s elite runners pass.
Several police officers then jump over the barrier and detain the pair, the footage shows.
There appeared to be no impact on the marathon.
More than 56,000 participants were expected to take part in the 26.2-mile race through the capital.
Sabastian Sawe of Kenya won the men’s elite race in a time of two hours, two minutes and 27 seconds, while Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa shattered the women’s-only world record in two hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds.
Assefa beat the previous best of two hours, 16 minutes and 16 seconds set last year in London by Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir.
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Pic: LNP
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: “At around 10.38am, two protesters from Youth Demand jumped over barriers at Tower Bridge and threw red paint on to the road.
“Marathon event staff intervened to remove the protesters from the path of the men’s elite race which was able to pass unobstructed.”
The force added that they were “quickly supported by police officers who arrested the protesters on suspicion of causing a public nuisance”.
The Met said the paint “appeared to be chalk-based” and was not expected to “present a hazard to runners yet to pass this point”.
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