Nicola Sturgeon has pulled out of a planned speaking event on Thursday after her husband was questioned by police.
Peter Murrell, 58, was arrested and then released without charge pending further investigation by detectives probing the Scottish National Party’s finances.
Mr Murrell is the party’s former chief executive. Officers at Police Scotland resumed a search of the couple’s home on Thursday in connection with the case.
Speaking through a spokesperson, Ms Sturgeon, Scotland’s former First Minister, said she did not want the event’s “critical” issue of climate change to be overshadowed.
She said Màiri McAllan, the Scottish cabinet secretary for net zero, would take her place at the Climate of Change event at 7.30pm.
“In order to keep the focus of this event on the critical issue of the climate emergency and Ambassador Patricia Espinosa’s contribution, Nicola Sturgeon has made the decision not to participate this evening,” said the spokesperson.
“She is grateful to the festival and Ambassador Espinosa for their understanding, and to Mairi McAllan for taking her place.”
She had earlier said she would “fully co-operate if required” with police following her husband’s arrest.
“Nicola Sturgeon had no prior knowledge of Police Scotland’s action or intentions,” said a spokesperson.
“Ms Sturgeon will fully co-operate with Police Scotland if required, however at this time no such request has been made.”
Police Scotland released Mr Murrell from custody just before 7pm after a dramatic day which rocked Scottish politics and saw the SNP’s headquarters in Edinburgh searched.
First Minister Humza Yousaf, who took over from Ms Sturgeon last week after her resignation in February, said the arrest marked a “difficult day” for the party.
He told broadcasters on Wednesday: “My reaction, as you’d imagine, much like anybody involved in the SNP, is that this is a difficulty for the party.
“But, again, I’d just reiterate and emphasise it’s so important for me not to comment on a live police investigation and be seen to prejudice that in any way, shape or form.”
Police Scotland had launched a formal investigation into the SNP’s finances after questions were raised about funds given to the party for a fresh independence campaign.
When Ms Sturgeon announced her resignation, she said it was not due to short-term pressures but rather that she knew in her “head and heart” it was the right time to go.
During a press conference at her resignation, she was asked if she expected to be interviewed in relation to the investigation into the party’s finances and said she did not.
Amid the SNP leadership contest to pick her successor, Mr Murrell separately announced he was stepping down from the role he had held for more than 20 years.
It came during a row over the party’s membership numbers which had dropped by about 30,000 in the last year, something the party had previously denied.
