London (CNN) – Peter Morell, the husband of former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has been released from custody and does not currently face any charges, after his arrest on Wednesday in connection with an investigation into the funding of the English-language Scottish National Party (SNP). ), according to Police Scotland.
Morrell, 58, resigned as chief executive of the SNP last month, after more than two decades in the job, following Sturgeon’s shock resignation as prime minister in February.
“A 58-year-old man suspected of connection with the ongoing investigation into the SNP’s financing and funding has been released without charge pending further investigation,” according to the police. The statement said.
The statement stated that “the man was interrogated by Police Scotland detectives, after his arrest at 7:45 am, and was released at 6:57 pm” (local time).
The authorities indicated that the order was still in effect and that agents conducted searches on Wednesday at various addresses.
Sturgeon and Muriel at St Paul’s Cathedral on June 3, 2022. Credit: Kirsty O’Connor/WPA Pool/Getty Images
Police Scotland are investigating the SNP’s handling of funds that were earmarked for the Scottish independence campaign, according to PA Media.
Earlier, an SNP spokesman said the party would not comment on the ongoing investigation, but it was “cooperating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so”.
The spokesman added that the party’s board of directors agreed to review governance and transparency.
The Scottish National Party has been at the helm of the Scottish government since 2007, but its goal of separating from the United Kingdom has been slowed recently by declining opinion polls and political hurdles.
Muriel and Sturgeon were key figures in the Scottish independence movement for years.
Sturgeon had been the country’s prime minister for eight years, but announced on February 15 that she was resigning from office.
At the time, Sturgeon said he knew “it was time” to resign, adding that the decision was “the right thing to do for myself, my party and the country”.
His announcement sparked a leadership battle in which Hamza Yusuf emerged victorious, a contest that exposed divisions within the party.