Nicola Sturgeon has gone to ground in the 36 hours since she was arrested by police amid an ongoing investigation into the finances of the Scottish National Party. Neighbours in her quiet suburban street in Uddingston, near Glasgow, say there have been no signs of life at the home she shares with husband Peter Murrell following her release.
The former First Minister, 52, was believed to have been arrested at Falkirk police station shortly after 10am on Sunday morning. Ms Sturgeon was questioned by detectives for seven hours before she was released without charge at around 5.25pm.
She did not appear before a waiting media pack outside her Uddingston home on Sunday. By 10pm on Monday evening, a day and a half after her shock arrest, no one has been seen coming or going from the house.
Although a police van passed the house several times on Monday afternoon, one neighbour told the Record on that there did not appear to be anyone home. She said: “We’ve not seen or heard anything. It’s been all quiet.”
On Sunday, Ms Sturgeon released a statement in which she proclaimed her innocence of any wrongdoing. She has not posted anything to her social media accounts since.
In the statement, she said: "To find myself in the situation I did today when I am certain I have committed no offence is both a shock and deeply distressing. I know that this ongoing investigation is difficult for people, and I am grateful that so many continue to show faith in me and appreciate that I would never do anything to harm either the SNP or the country.
“Obviously, given the nature of this process, I cannot go into detail. However, I do wish to say this, and to do so in the strongest possible terms.
"Innocence is not just a presumption I am entitled do in law. I know beyond doubt that I am in fact innocent of any wrongdoing. To the many people who have sent messages of support over these past difficult weeks — including since today’s news broke — thank you for your kindness.
“Thank you also to my close circle of family and friends who are giving me much-needed strength at this time. Finally, while I will take a day or two to process this latest development, I intend to be back in Parliament soon where I will continue to represent my Glasgow Southside constituents to the very best of my ability.”
She is the third member of the SNP to be arrested and questioned by officers as part of Operation Branchform, Police Scotland's investigation into alleged misuse of party finances. Her husband, former party chief executive Peter Murrell, was arrested in early April and ex-treasurer Colin Beattie followed less than two weeks later. Both went on to quit their roles.
Despite calls for Sturgeon to either resign the SNP whip or to have it taken from her, her successor Humza Yousaf has resisted taking action. He said on Monday that he "saw no reason" to rescind her membership after she was released without charge.
He added: "There's no pressure on her to do so from the party or from me as leader of the SNP [to quit the party]. She has been released without charge and I think it is so important that presumption of innocence is upheld."
Ash Regan, who stood against Yousaf for the SNP leadership, said: "I think that Nicola should perhaps consider voluntarily resigning her SNP membership until this can be cleared up."
Michelle Thomson, who was previously suspended by Sturgeon over an unconnected matter, said: "The processes set by the SNP under her leadership were clear. Some eight years ago when an MP, I was required to resign the SNP whip although I was never personally under investigation and was certainly not arrested."
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: "The question is for Humza Yousaf, is he strong enough to take action? Or is he too weak to take action? That’s a decision for them, what I’m more interested in is the fact that we now have an incompetent and dysfunctional SNP Government, a Government now famed for secrecy, for cover-up and economic instability and incompetence.”
Douglas Ross, the Scottish Conservatives leader, branded Yousaf as "weak" for not suspending Sturgeon. He said: "A weak leader unable to stand up to his predecessor. The SNP should follow their own precedent and suspend Nicola Sturgeon while she is being investigated by the police."
The SNP did not respond to the Record's latest request for comment.
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