Nicola Sturgeon: I understand why people doubt my ignorance of alleged SNP embezzlement

"Sturgeon announced her departure in February 2023. In April that year, Murrell was arrested, with police searching the Glasgow home the couple shared, as well as the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh. Officers also seized a motorhome parked outside Murrell's mother's house in Fife. Murrell, the SNP's longstanding chief executive, was later charged in connection with alleged embezzlement and has not yet entered a plea."

"Asked if she could understand why many people, including SNP supporters, found it hard to believe she was oblivious to any potential wrongdoing, Sturgeon replied: I can, absolutely. She went on: If I was on the outside looking into the unfolding of events in the days after I stood down, I would struggle to believe that as well. But trust me, I had no idea. I knew there was an investigation, obviously, back at the point I stood down."

Nicola Sturgeon insists she had no knowledge of alleged embezzlement linked to the Scottish National Party despite close domestic ties to the accused. She says her relaxed demeanour after resigning would have been impossible if she had suspected wrongdoing. Sturgeon resigned in February 2023; in April police arrested Peter Murrell and searched the Glasgow home the couple shared and the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh, also seizing a motorhome in Fife. Murrell, the SNP's longtime chief executive, was later charged and has not entered a plea. Police said earlier this year that Sturgeon was no longer under investigation.

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