Nicola Sturgeon Breaks Silence After Being Cleared – ‘Not a Scrap of Evidence Against Me’
Nicola Sturgeon has spoken out for the first time since being officially cleared in the long-running police investigation into the SNP’s finances, saying she feels “vindicated” and that there was never “a scrap of evidence” against her, reported BBC.
The former First Minister shared her relief in an interview with STV News, following the announcement on Thursday that she would face no further action. “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 said.
Describing it as a day of “mixed emotion,” Sturgeon admitted she felt both relief and “maybe a bit of vindication as well” now that what she called the “cloud of investigation” had finally lifted after nearly two years. “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.”
With the legal chapter now behind her, Sturgeon said she’s ready to move on. “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 added.
She’s also due to appear this Saturday at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow alongside friend and crime author Val McDermid for an evening of “chat and laughs” at an event aptly titled Books and Banter.
The development came as Police Scotland announced the formal conclusion of its investigation into both Sturgeon and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie. The force confirmed that neither Sturgeon nor Beattie would face charges in connection with Operation Branchform, the probe launched in 2021 to track the fate of around £600,000 raised by the SNP for independence campaigning.
The same couldn’t be said for Sturgeon’s husband, Peter Murrell. On Thursday morning, Murrell appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court charged with embezzling party funds. He made no plea, was committed for further examination, and was granted bail.
The Crown Office confirmed that its advice to police on the wider investigation had been given without delay or political interference. “All Scotland’s prosecutors operate independently of political influence,” they said, stressing that professional prosecutors and independent legal counsel handled the case.
With her name cleared, Sturgeon can now return to public life without the shadow of suspicion—and it seems she’s more than ready to leave this chapter behind.