2023-06-11 17:11:13
Two days after the political downfall of Boris Johnson, another figure in British politics is falling out of favor in the UK. four months later announcement of his resignation of the post of Scottish Prime Minister, Nicola Sturgeon was arrested on Sunday June 11 by the police as part of an investigation into the financing of her party, the Scottish National Party, independentist. The police statement, sibylline, was content to mention the arrest of“a 52-year-old woman as a suspect” as part of this investigation, the BBC and the Associated Press agency claiming that it was indeed Nicola Sturgeon.
The investigation focuses in particular, according to The Guardian, on how some £600,000 of donations (€700,000) were spent. Nicola Sturgeon, who led Scotland since 2014 before effectively leaving her post at the end of March, is a historic figure in Scottish independence. In particular, she sought to obtain a second independence referendum after the failure of that of 2014. An ambition thwarted by the end of inadmissibility sent by the British government to London. The so-called “Branchform” investigation, carried out by the Scottish police, relates in particular to donations raised for this campaign in favor of independence.
Her husband already arrested in early April
Searches were carried out at several properties, including his home in Uddingston, near Glasgow, where a police tent was pitched in the garden, and at the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh. The police notably seized boxes and documents.
Nicola Sturgeon is the third figure of the SNP to be arrested in this context after her husband and former director general of the party Peter Murrell, at home on April 5. Interrogated for twelve hours, “Mr. Sturgeon” had been released without charge. A few days later, it was the turn of the treasurer of the party, Scottish MP Colin Beattie to be arrested and questioned, before being released without charge, pending a further investigation.
The leadership of the SNP is now ensured by the former minister and close ally of Nicola Sturgeon, Humza Yousafelected at the end of March to succeed him.
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