Nicola Sturgeon insists 'I've done nothing wrong!' as she arrives home after arrest

Nicola Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon today insisted she had done nothing wrong in the wake of her arrest

PA
Richard Jeffries

By Richard Jeffries


Published: 18/06/2023

- 16:27

Updated: 18/06/2023

- 16:36

Former First Minister of Scotland says she's a 'human being who wants privacy'

Scotland’s former first minister Nicola Sturgeon insisted “I’ve done nothing wrong” as she returned home for the first time following her arrest last Sunday.


She was questioned by police in connection with the inquiry into the SNP’s finances and was released without charge on June 11 pending further investigation.

Ms Sturgeon was the third person to be arrested as Police Scotland look into how more than £600,000 in donations to the party earmarked for an independence referendum has been used.

Her husband, Peter Murrell, the SNP’s former chief executive, and ex-SNP treasurer Colin Beattie MSP were also released without charge pending further investigation.

Police Scotland has been investigating for several years what happened to the donations from activists.


Operaton Branchform officers searched Ms Sturgeon's home and the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh on 5 April. A luxury motorhome which costs about £110,000 was also seized by police from outside the home of Mr Murrell's mother in Dunfermline.

SNP treasurer Colin Beattie was also released without charge. He resigned as party treasurer shortly afterwards.

Returning to her home in Glasgow, on Sunday, Ms Sturgeon said: “I can’t say very much just now.

"What I will say is reiterate the statement I issued last Sunday – I’m certain that I have done nothing wrong.

Peter Murrell Nicola Sturgeon marriedPeter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon were married in 2010PA

“I intend to be back in Parliament in the early part of the week, I’ll make myself available for questions then.

“For now I intend to go home and catch up with some family.”


There have been calls for Ms Sturgeon to resign as a member of the Scottish Parliament following her arrest last weekend.

Asked whether she has considered stepping back from the SNP, she said: “I’ve done nothing wrong and that is the only thing I’m going to assert today.”

Nicola Sturgeon SNP

There have been calls for Nicola Sturgeon to resign as an MSP

GB News

She added: “I know I’m a public figure, I accept what comes with that, but I’m also a human being that’s entitled to a bit of privacy, and my neighbours are also entitled to a bit of that as well.”

Asked whether conditions have been placed on her after her arrest, she told the media: “No, and I’m not going to get into anything other than that.”

Asked whether Nicola Sturgeon would have suspended Nicola Sturgeon, she said: “Look, I’ve done nothing wrong; it’s for others to comment as they see fit, but that’s my position.”

Ms Sturgeon then went into her house.

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