Nicola Sturgeon has broken her silence following her husband's arrest to admit the last few days have been "obviously difficult" and she suggested she wanted to speak out, but couldn't, as police probe her party's finances.
Outside her home near Glasgow, the former Scottish First Minister spoke out for the first time following the arrest of her husband, the Scottish National Party's former chief executive, Peter Murrell on Wednesday.
The arrest shocked British politics and raised questions over the future of the SNP's dominance of Holyrood.
In a brief statement Ms Sturgeon said that she understands "the scrutiny that comes on me as a public figure", adding that she intends to "get on with life and my job as you would expect", in spite of the police investigation that has rocked Scotland's dominant political party.
In her comments Ms Sturgeon said recent days had been "difficult" but that there would be "full co-operation" with the police investigation.
She said: "The last few days have been obviously difficult, quite dramatic at times, but I understand that is part of a process," she told reporters.
Ms Sturgeon, who announced in February she would be standing back from the role of First Minister, added she intended to "get on with life and my job" after the arrest of her husband.
She said: "As much as there are things I may want to say, I'm not able to do so, other than to say that, as has been the case, there will continue to be full cooperation."
Alongside this, she added that her husband Mr Murrell also is "not able to say anything" but suggested he too wished to speak out.
She added: “Peter’s at home as you would expect it to be. Peter’s not able to say anything.
“Again, that’s not necessarily a matter of choice. That’s just the nature of this.”
Mr Murrell was arrested by police amid a probe into the SNP's funding and finances.
The 58-year-old was held by officers after he quit his role as chief executive last month.
Mr Murrell, who married Ms Sturgeon in 2010, resigned three weeks ago after taking responsibility for misleading the media about party membership numbers.
He said he had become a distraction to the leadership race, triggered by his wife’s announcement she would quit as party chief and First Minister.
Her successor, Humza Yousaf, was installed in Bute House last week and now faces the difficult task of reviving the SNP’s morale after weeks of turmoil.
Speaking after the news broke, the new First Minister admitted the arrest of Mr Murrell was "difficult" and "challenging".
But onlookers were left even more shocked when police were spotted going into Ms Sturgeon's back garden with spades.
There was a large blue tent in the front garden, which was screened off, but it was unclear if any digging was actually done.
Asked when he was made aware of the arrest, Mr Yousaf said: “This morning, after the event, I think that’s really important for me to stress."
Police Scotland confirmed the arrest and the SNP said they would co-operate fully with the investigation and announced a review of "governance and transparency".
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