In brief
Scottish police have announced that Nicola Sturgeon, the former first minister of Scotland, is no longer under investigation regarding allegations of embezzlement tied to her leadership of the Scottish National Party (SNP). This development follows a lengthy inquiry, known as Operation Branchform, which scrutinized financial irregularities within the SNP after her husband, Peter Murrell, faced embezzlement charges.
The police lifted the inquiry's cloud hanging over Sturgeon since her arrest in June 2023, which contributed to significant turmoil within the party. Following her husband’s court appearance in Edinburgh on related charges without entering a plea, Sturgeon confirmed reporters' claims that police had assured her there would be no actions taken against her. The police statement, while not naming Sturgeon, indicated that both she and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie would face no further inquiries. The revelations come on the heels of Sturgeon and Murrell announcing their separation earlier this year, amidst ongoing legal troubles in a tumultuous political landscape dominated by calls for Scottish independence.
