Nicola Sturgeon says she has been “vindicated” and there was never a “scrap of evidence” against her.
The former first minister of Scotland spoke for the first time since being cleared in a police investigation into the SNP’s finances on Thursday.
“I have done nothing wrong, so I was confident of reaching this point and getting this outcome, but obviously, it is a relief to now have that confirmed,” she told STV News.
She expressed both relief and “maybe a bit of vindication as well” as the “cloud of investigation” that has been hanging over her for the past two years has cleared.
“Obviously, today is day of mixed emotion for me,” she said.
“I was advised earlier today that after a very thorough investigation of all the evidence there will be no action taken against me. In other words, I am completely in the clear.”
Sturgeon said she was looking forward to getting on with her life in the wake of the investigation.
“I’ve got a year to go in Parliament, I’m looking forward to continuing to represent my constituency, and I’ve got exciting things coming up – not least my book,” she told STV News.
On Saturday, Sturgeon will take to the stage of the King’s Theatre in Glasgow with her friend, the author Val McDermid, to host an evening of “chat and laughs” titled Books and Banter.
On Thursday, the criminal investigation into Sturgeon and the SNP’s former treasurer was dropped.
It came after prosecutors gave Police Scotland guidance on what further action should be taken in the probe into the SNP’s finances.
Police Scotland confirmed former Scottish first minister Sturgeon had been cleared in its investigation into the SNP’s finances.
Last year, the force handed over its findings so far to the Crown and asked for direction on the next steps of the probe known as Operation Branchform.
On Thursday, Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell appeared in court charged with the embezzlement of party funds.
At Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday morning, Murrell made no plea, was committed for further examination and granted bail.
Police Scotland confirmed former Scottish first minister Sturgeon had been cleared in its investigation into the SNP’s finances.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Following direction from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, criminal enquiries into two people arrested as part of the investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party have now concluded.
“The 73-year-old man arrested on April 18, 2023, and the 54-year-old woman arrested on June 11, 2023, have not been charged and are no longer under investigation.”
Operation Branchform
Operation Branchform has been ongoing since 2021 and is investigating what happened to around £600,000 raised by the party for independence campaigning.
Sturgeon, 54, and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie, 73, were arrested and questioned as part of the investigation in June 2023 but were released without charge.
After her husband’s appearance in court, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service issued a statement regarding the “related investigations”.
The Crown said it had responded to a request from Police Scotland for advice and guidance in the investigation into a 73-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman – Beattie and Sturgeon.
“The request was handled as part of a large-scale wider inquiry and without delay on the part of the prosecution service who recognise its significance,” a spokesperson said.
The Crown said professional prosecutors from COPFS and independent counsel dealt with the request without involving politically appointed officials.
“All Scotland’s prosecutors operate independently of political influence,” the Crown said.
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