Nicola Sturgeon breaks silence after husband Peter Murrell charged in relation to embezzlement

Police Scotland said a 59-year-old man was taken into custody at 9.13am and was questioned by detectives.

The force confirmed the man was previously arrested as a suspect on April 5, 2023.

Murrell, who was previously the chief executive of the SNP, has now resigned his membership from the party.

In a statement yesterday, Police Scotland said: “The man, who was arrested at 9.13am today and had previously been arrested as a suspect on April 5, 2023, was charged at 6.35pm after further questioning by Police Scotland detectives investigating the funding and finances of the party.

“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 police inquiry - dubbed Operation Branchform - has been ongoing since July 2021.

Police Scotland is investigating whether £660,000 raised by the SNP for a second independence referendum was spent on other things.

The investigation has cost taxpayers more than £1 million.

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

The former SNP chief executive and his wife were both arrested and released without charge last year.

The party's former Treasurer Colin Beattie was also arrested and released without charge.

Sturgeon and Murrell got married at a private ceremony at the Òran Mór in Glasgow in 2010.