Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who dominated politics in Scotland for almost a decade, was arrested and questioned for several hours on Sunday by police investigating the finances of the governing, pro-independence Scottish National Party.
Police Scotland said a 52-year-old woman was detained Sunday morning “as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.”
Scottish police opened an investigation in 2021 into how more than 600,000 pounds designated for a Scottish independence campaign was spent. It is highly unusual for a leader or former leader of a UK political party to be arrested. The last such case also concerned the Scottish Nationalists: Sturgeon's predecessor as first minister, Alex Salmond, was arrested in 2019 and charged with a series of sexual offenses, including attempted rape. He was acquitted on all 13 charges after a trial in January 2020.
The first female leader of Scotland’s devolved government, Sturgeon led her party to dominance in Scottish politics and refashioned the SNP from a largely one-issue party into a dominant governing force with liberal social positions. Scottish voters backed remaining in the U.K. in a 2014 referendum that was billed as a once-in-a-generation decision. The party wants a new vote, but the U.K. Supreme Court has ruled that Scotland can’t hold one without London’s consent. The central government has refused to authorize another referendum.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Former Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon arrested over SNP funding probe | CBC NewsFormer Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon was arrested on Sunday, the BBC and Sky reported, after police said a 52-year-old woman was in custody being questioned as part of its investigation into the Scottish National Party's funding.
Read more »
Former Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon arrested amid financial probeScottish police have been investigating how 600,000 pounds ($745,000) designated for a Scottish independence campaign was spent.
Read more »
Ex-Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon arrested by police investigating governing party's financesSeveral senior SNP figures have previously been arrested and questioned as part of the investigation.
Read more »
Ex-Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon arrested by police investigating governing party's financesFormer Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who dominated politics in Scotland for years, was arrested Sunday by police investigating the finances of the governing, pro-independence Scottish National Party.
Read more »
Ex-Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon reportedly arrested - National | Globalnews.caNicola Sturgeon unexpectedly resigned in February after eight years as Scottish National Party leader and first minister of Scotland's semi-autonomous government.
Read more »