Watch Nicola Sturgeon respond to questions about SNP finances on the day of her resignation

THIS IS the moment Nicola Sturgeon answered questions about the SNP’s finances on the day of her resignation.

Ms Sturgeon’s time as First Minister officially came to an end last week when she was replaced as SNP leader by Humza Yousaf.

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She resigned in February after eight years as First Minister.

And her husband Peter Murrell quit shortly thereafter under pressure over his handling of the leadership election, with claims of “secrecy” competing to replace her.

Police announced this morning that Mr Murrell has been arrested as part of an investigation into the SNP’s finances.

The 58-year-old former Nats boss is currently being questioned by detectives who are conducting searches of various properties.

It comes as Police Scotland have been investigating around £600,000 earmarked for Scottish independence campaigns.

On the day she announced her resignation, Ms Sturgeon was questioned a second time about the police investigation into the party’s finances.

In footage first shown on the Scottish Sun’s YouTube channel, she was asked if she expected to be questioned by the police.

Ms Sturgeon said: “I will not be discussing any ongoing police investigations.

“I wouldn’t do that on any subject and I won’t do it now.”

Last month the leader of the Scottish Tory, Craig Hoy, also asked SNP chief cabinet officer Keith Brown in Holyrood if he expected to be interviewed by Police Scotland during Operation Branchform.

Mr Hoy also asked Mr Brown if he was aware of any “allegations of operational interference therein”.

The chairman warned Mr Brown “to deal only with matters for which he has ministerial responsibility”.

In response, Mr Brown said: “In matters for which I have ministerial responsibility and which affect Police Scotland, I am not responsible for investigating.

“I think the member knows that, he knows exactly what he’s doing in that regard.

“And I find it reprehensible that we are seeing more and more evidence of things being referenced – earlier isolated cases and now an ongoing investigation.

“But of course I can’t say anything about that, Chairman”.

Officials descended on the home of Mr Murrell and Ms Sturgeon in Uddingston this morning as part of their investigation into the funding and finances of the SNP.

We’ve told how Nats bosses have been scrutinized over the past 18 months after questions were asked about almost £500,000 in ‘missing’ cash from an IndyRef2 online crowdfunder in 2017.

Police Operation Branchform was launched in July 2021 to investigate claims by some activists about money raised in 2017 – which SNP says was specifically for a referendum campaign.

It is also claimed that a £107,620 loan in 2021 from former chief executive Mr Murrell to bail out the Nats from “cash flow” problems is also being looked at by police as part of the investigation.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “A 58-year-old man was arrested today, Wednesday 5 April 2023, as a suspect in connection with the ongoing inquiry into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.

“The man is in custody and is being questioned by investigators from Police Scotland.

“As part of the investigation, officers are also conducting searches at a number of addresses.

“A report will be sent to the Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service.

“The matter is active under the Contemp of Court Act 1981 and the public is therefore advised to exercise caution when discussing it on social media.

“Since the investigation is still ongoing, we cannot comment further.”

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