Former Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon has been cleared in a police investigation into the finances of the Scottish National Party, which had cast a shadow over her tenure as Scotland's longest-serving first minister.
The investigation, ongoing for nearly four years, has loomed over Sturgeon, Scotland's most recognizable politician, who led the devolved government in Edinburgh from 2014 until her resignation in early 2023.
Since 2021, police have been looking into the fate of over £600,000 ($730,000) that was raised by campaigners in 2017. This amount was intended to be ring-fenced but may have been diverted for other uses.
Sturgeon, 54, was briefly arrested in June 2023 for questioning related to the inquiry into the funds. She has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Police Scotland stated that a 54-year-old woman previously part of the investigation had not been charged and was no longer under scrutiny.
Speaking outside her home near Glasgow, Sturgeon expressed her relief at being cleared. She remarked that the outcome was what she had expected, acknowledging the difficulties and frustrations of having the investigation hanging over her for nearly two years.
The inquiry and Sturgeon's arrest were particularly damaging for the SNP, which has dominated Scottish politics for most of the past two decades.
The unsuccessful independence referendum in 2014 resulted in 55% of Scots voting to remain part of the United Kingdom. Recent opinion polls indicate that support for independence remains consistent with levels observed during the 2014 vote.
The SNP experienced significant losses in recent elections, with dozens of seats lost to the Labour Party, marking its worst national election result since 2010.
Sturgeon’s exoneration coincided with the court appearance of her estranged husband, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, who is facing embezzlement charges.
In January, Sturgeon announced their separation, revealing that they were in the process of parting ways. Having served as a lawmaker in the devolved parliament since 1999, Sturgeon indicated earlier this month that she would not seek re-election, effectively stepping back from frontline politics.