Nicola Sturgeon

The husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested in connection with an investigation into Scottish National Party finances.

Alba leader Alex Salmond, who preceded Ms Sturgeon as first minister and SNP leader, told BBC Scotland: "I led the SNP for a long time. The scene on the outskirts of Glasgow is surreal. According to a statement, the SNP raised a total of £666,953 through referendum-related appeals between 2017 and 2020. An ice cream van can be heard in the distance. A woman pushing a pram films it all with her mobile phone. The house was sealed off with blue and white tape, while a tent was erected on the driveway. The then SNP's chief executive loaned the party £107,620 in June 2021. "At its meeting on Saturday, the governing body of the SNP, the NEC, agreed to a review of governance and transparency - that will be taken forward in the coming weeks." An SNP spokesperson said: "Clearly it would not be appropriate to comment on any live police investigation but the SNP have been cooperating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so. Last year it emerged Mr Murrell gave a loan of more than £100,000 to the SNP to help it out with a "cash flow" issue after the last election. "But what I will say is that the SNP has fully cooperated with the investigation and it will continue to do so." The new first minister said it was "a difficult day" for the SNP.