#nicola-sturgeon

#nicola-sturgeon

The SNP's deputy leader has backed Humza Yousaf's decision not to suspend the whip from Nicola Sturgeon, saying it is in the interests of natural justice that she stays in the party.Keith Brown said other cases where the party's MSPs had been suspended while allegations around them were being investigated involved different circumstances.

Nicola Sturgeon has said she is innocent of any wrongdoing following her arrest by police investigating allegations of financial misconduct at the Scottish National Party.Read what Ms Sturgeon had to say following her release by police without charge: To find myself in the situation I did today when I am certain I have committed no offence is both a shock and deeply distressing.

Nicola Sturgeon has said she is innocent of any wrongdoing following her arrest by police investigating allegations of financial misconduct at the Scottish National Party.Read what Ms Sturgeon had to say following her release by police without charge: To find myself in the situation I did today when I am certain I have committed no offence is both a shock and deeply distressing.

Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the SNP.Police Scotland confirmed a 52-year-old woman was taken into custody as a suspect and was questioned by detectives.The former first minister was later released without charge pending further investigations.

Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested in the police investigation into the SNP's finances.Police Scotland said she is in custody and is being questioned by detectives.The force said: "A 52-year-old woman has today, Sunday, June 11, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party."

Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's longest serving first minister, resigned earlier this year in a move that confounded many political observers at the time.On Sunday, she was arrested by police investigating allegations of financial misconduct.Sturgeon, who led the Scottish National party to electoral domination at Holyrood the home of the Scottish parliament was questioned by detectives as a suspect but was later released without charge, pending further inquiries, after voluntarily going to a police station.

Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested by police investigating allegations of financial misconduct at the SNP.The former first minister is being held in custody and questioned by detectives looking into claims that 600,000 in donations for an independence campaign was misspent by the party.Ms Sturgeon, who stepped down in April, is the third high-profile SNP figure to be arrested as part of Operation Branchform, the Police Scotland name for the investigation.

Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested in the police investigation into the SNP's finances.Police Scotland said she is in custody and is being questioned by detectives.The force said: A 52-year-old woman has today, Sunday, June 11, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.

Alan Cumming has voiced hope his involvement in A Strange Loop will broaden the demographic who attend the play's premiere in London.The Scottish actor, known for GoldenEye and X-Men 2, is a producer of the musical which is opening at the Barbican Theatre on Saturday after a successful Broadway run.

Humza Yousaf has accused Scottish Labour of hubris, claiming they believe they have already won the next general election.Scotland's First Minister kicked off a summer of campaigning in his Glasgow Pollok constituency on Saturday, saying the SNP would not lose seats at the next election expected next year.

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has revealed she did not know who the Secretary of State for Scotland was when she first met him.Ms Sturgeon told an audience at the Aye Write book festival in the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow on Friday evening she did not know who Alister Jack was after he had been appointed by Boris Johnson.

The local election results suggest that the SNP could hold the balance of power at the next general election, the party's Westminster leader has said.The SNP's Stephen Flynn said Friday's results, which have seen Labour seize key battlegrounds at the expense of Rishi Sunak's Tories, could suggest that Scotland could be in a position to pull the strings of a minority government after the next general election.

Nicola Sturgeon has denied pursuing other jobs during her time as Scotland's first minister, insisting if she had been it would have been found out.The former leader of the SNP told the Nicola Sturgeon Podcast, on BBC Sounds, that she would remain in the Scottish Parliament until at least the next election and resigning as first minister was the biggest life change she had gone through which would see her have to almost re-wire how my brain works.

The SNP's former spin doctor has said he is willing to bet that the police investigation into the party's finances will not result in any charges.Murray Foote, who quit in March amid a row over membership figures, speculated the probe could be "wild goose chase" and branded it a "grotesque spectacle".

The SNP's former spin doctor said he is confident the police investigation into the party's finances will not result in any charges, as he spoke publicly about the probe for the first time.Murray Foote was head of communications for the SNP until standing down in March after a row about the party providing inaccurate membership figures to the media during its leadership election, saying he had passed them on in good faith.

The SNP are hoping to strike a backroom deal with Labour to secure a second independence referendum, the Scottish Tory deputy leader has said.Meghan Gallacher insisted any such deal would be sleekit a Scots word which means crafty or deceitful as she warned Labour would be weak on the Union if Sir Keir Starmer does not win a majority in the next general election.

Scotland will be a key battleground in the next general election, Tory chairman Greg Hands said, adding that votes for the party north of the border could keep Sir Keir Starmer out of Downing Street.With the SNP weakened amid the turmoil of the police investigation into its finance, Mr Hands said there is an opportunity for the Conservatives to gain seats in the next UK election, which is likely to be held next year.

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon was being calculated when she described the troubles in the SNP since she stepped down as her worst nightmare, Douglas Ross has claimed.The Scottish Conservative leader said: I've always thought every decision and action taken by Nicola Sturgeon was calculated and I still think that to be the case.

Scottish Tories can provide the positive vision Scotland needs, Douglas Ross claimed as he said the country was at a crossroad as the Nicola Sturgeon era of Scottish politics comes crashing down.The Scottish Conservative leader set out his alternative vision for Scotland as he addressed his party's conference in Glasgow.

Rishi Sunak has condemned the SNP for its record of failure, as he insisted the Conservatives will deliver for Scotland.The Prime Minister said he is confident he will meet five key aims he set out earlier this year, adding that Scotland is at the heart of my plans for delivery.Mr Sunak addressed the Scottish Tory conference in Glasgow on Friday morning.

Douglas Ross is set to backtrack on a call for tactical voting to oust the SNP.In a speech at his party's annual conference later, the Scottish Tory leader will urge voters to back his party at the next UK election.He previously suggested unionist voters should select the party with the best chance of defeating the SNP.

Legal advice presented to ministers over a potential challenge to the UK Government's blocking of gender reforms is unlikely to be published, a spokesman for the First Minister has said.Throughout his campaign to be leader of the SNP and First Minister, Humza Yousaf said he would challenge the Section 35 order that blocked the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill but in the final debate, he said he would not fight a court battle if legal advice to the Scottish Government said it would fail.

Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf has defended his decision to include a minister for independence in his Government team as he came under fire for having a taxpayer-funded nationalist campaigner in the new ministerial role.Jamie Hepburn was appointed to the new position on Wednesday, as Mr Yousaf revealed his Cabinet and junior ministers.

First Minister Humza Yousaf has appointed his first Cabinet in the job, securing top posts for his supporters.Senior members of the SNP parliamentary group filed into Bute House on Wednesday to be told which jobs they will be given.The announcement comes just hours after the First Minister was sworn in at the Court of Session.

Cabinet appointments are under way after Humza Yousaf was sworn in as the First Minister of Scotland.Senior SNP MSPs have been filing into the First Minister's official residence at Bute House in Edinburgh on Wednesday morning to be appointed to the top jobs of government.Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, Ukraine minster Neil Gray and Net Zero Secretary Michael Matheson have been seen entering the official residence, but it is not yet clear if they will be moving positions.

Humza Yousaf has been sworn in as the First Minister of Scotland at the Court of Session, and he will now start appointing his Cabinet.He won the SNP leadership election on Monday, was elected First Minister by MSPs on Tuesday, and the administering of the three oaths of office at the court on Wednesday made his appointment official.

Watch live as Humza Yousaf is sworn in as Scotland's first minister on Wednesday 29 March.The ceremony at the Court of Session in Edinburgh will see the 37-year-old make his statutory declarations, after which he will be granted his official title of first minister and Keeper of the Scottish Seal.Mr Yousaf won a leadership contest to replace Nicola Sturgeon after she spent more than eight years in the role.

Kate Forbes chose to turn down a cabinet post to allow for a better work life balance, Deputy First Minister Shona Robison said.The former finance secretary narrowly missed out on the top job herself, taking 48% of the vote to Humza Yousaf's 52% in the second round in the SNP leadership race.On Tuesday she turned down the post of rural affairs secretary seen by many to be a demotion instead returning to the backbenches and endangering the First Minister's chances of being able to reunite a party that felt the full impact of a bruising leadership contest.

Humza Yousaf is to be legally sworn in as Scotland's sixth First Minister.The ceremony, at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, will see the 37-year-old make his statutory declarations after which he will be granted his official title of First Minister and Keeper of the Scottish Seal.The ceremony comes after MSPs backed him to become Scotland's next leader, replacing Nicola Sturgeon after her more than eight-year rule.

Humza Yousaf has been confirmed as Scotland's new first minister after a vote in the Scottish Parliament.Mr Yousaf, who succeeds Nicola Sturgeon, is the country's sixth first minister and first from an ethnic minority background.The BBC's Kirsten Campbell looks back on his career in politics and at the challenges ahead for the government he now leads.

Scotland's new First Minister Humza Yousaf has promised he will argue tirelessly for independence despite facing calls from the UK Government to put the SNP's obsession aside.In his first speech after being voted into the job by MSPs, the new SNP leader insisted his Government will be able to deliver on our priorities more effectively when Scotland is independent.

The SNP leader, Humza Yousaf, has been voted in by MSPs as Scotland's youngest first minister and the first from a minority ethnic background.The 37-year-old succeeds Nicola Sturgeon, who formally tendered her resignation to the king on Tuesday morning after announcing her intention to stand down last month after more than eight years in the post.

The Scottish independence cause is dead after Humza Yousaf was elected as the new SNP leader, senior Labour and Tory figures have claimed.Mr Yousaf who will replace Nicola Sturgeon after narrowly defeating rival Kate Forbes said he would be asking the UK government straight away to grant the Scottish parliament the power to hold another independence referendum.

Humza Yousaf has been announced as the new leader of the SNP and Nicola Sturgeon's successor.The former health secretary is set to become Scotland's youngest first minister.Finance Secretary Kate Forbes and former community safety minister Ash Regan were also in the running for the top job.Nicola Sturgeon announced in February that she would resign after more than eight years in the job, once her successor had been chosen.

Humza Yousaf has been elected the first minority ethnic leader of the Scottish National party after a tumultuous campaign that exposed deep divisions in the party that has dominated Scottish politics under his predecessor, Nicola Sturgeon.He is almost certain to be confirmed as Scotland's next first minister in a nominal vote at Holyrood on Tuesday.

SNP leader Humza Yousaf has been voted in by MSPs as Scotland's youngest First Minister and the first from a minority ethnic background.The 37-year-old succeeds Nicola Sturgeon, who formally tendered her resignation to the King on Tuesday morning after announcing her intention to stand down last month after more than eight years in the post.

Nicola Sturgeon has officially tendered her resignation as First Minister to the King and left Bute House for the final time.After eight years in the top job, Nicola Sturgeon last month announced she would step down when her successor had been chosen by SNP members.On Monday, Humza Yousaf was elected to the post and will likely be confirmed as first minister on Tuesday with Ms Sturgeon saying she will back his bid to succeed her.

Humza Yousaf will be chosen by MSPs to be the sixth first minister of Scotland after narrowly defeating his rivals in the race to lead the SNP.The 37-year-old will become the youngest to win the job as one of the country's most powerful politicians when SNP and Scottish Green parliamentarians in Holyrood back him to take over from Nicola Sturgeon on Tuesday.

The SNP has chosen a new leader after a six-week election which exposed divisions in the party.Humza Yousaf will take over from Nicola Sturgeon as party leader and is set to become Scotland's next first minister.The party's ultimate goal of Scottish independence remains unchanged.However, Mr Yousaf is planning a slightly different course than the one envisioned by his predecessor.

New SNP leader Humza Yousaf has said he will ask for a Section 30 order right away just hours after he took over in the top job.Mr Yousaf, who has been Scottish Health Secretary since 2021, succeeds Nicola Sturgeon in that role, and will now be formally elected by MSPs as Scotland's sixth first minister on Tuesday.

Humza Yousaf is set to become Scotland's youngest first minister and the first person from a minority ethnic background to hold the post after he was elected SNP leader.After a sometimes fiery and divisive leadership contest, SNP members chose Mr Yousaf, 37, as their party's new leader, succeeding Nicola Sturgeon.

Humza Yousaf has narrowly won the bitterly-fought contest to replace Nicola Sturgeon as the SNP leader and Scotland's first minister, winning by just over 2,000 votes.The 37-year-old is set to become Scotland's youngest first minister and the first person from a minority ethnic background to hold the post after the result was announced at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh.

Scottish health secretary Humza Yousaf will finally find out his fate in the SNP leadership contest today.Mr Yousaf has been standing in the tense five-week contest against Ash Regan and Kate Forbes after Nicola Sturgeon announced she would resign, and will find out if he wins at around 2pm on Monday.

Nicola Sturgeon is in the early stages of learning to drive, she has told a new BBC podcast.The outgoing first minister says she did not make time to take lessons when she was younger as she was focused on politics.Now she hopes learning to drive will give her more "personal freedom".Hear more of the conversation by subscribing to the Nicola Sturgeon podcast on BBC Sounds.

The Scottish National party is preparing to announce later on Monday which candidate has won the bitterly contested battle to be Scotland's next first minister.Whoever wins may need to do deals with unionist parties if the power-sharing deal with the Greens collapses, the next first minister has been warned.

Nicola Sturgeon was always going to leave some big shoes to fill, but the SNP has already been finding the First Minister a hard act to follow.The race for the SNP leadership has been a rocky affair, with dramatic resignations and acrimonious clashes between the candidates during live TV debates.Even interim chief executive Mike Russell said, only a few days ago, that the party is in a tremendous mess.

Nicola Sturgeon's successor has been left to pick up the pieces of the First Minister's woeful record, Scottish Labour has said.Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar urged the next SNP leader to address the Scottish Government's overflowing in-tray.That includes a focus on the NHS, with one in seven, 772,887 people, Scots on a waiting list for treatment, according to Public Health Scotland data.

Nicola Sturgeon has said that she will probably write a book about her experiences during the last 30 years.The First Minister spoke on a BBC Sounds podcast about her next steps after her resignation as SNP leader, a role which she has held for the last eight years.She announced that she was stepping down during a press conference at Bute House in Edinburgh last month.

The Scottish Greens have issued a stark warning to the next leader of the Scottish National party that a sincere commitment to progressive values cannot be an optional extra.With the SNP announcing on Monday who will replace Nicola Sturgeon as party leader and first minister after her shock resignation last month, the Scottish Green leadership gave its most definitive indication yet that the partnership deal between the two parties would be over if Kate Forbes is elected.

Humza Yousaf hopes to have Nicola Sturgeon on speed dial if he is elected to replace her as SNP leader.The leadership hopeful has reiterated his admiration for the First Minister, who made her final speech in the role in Holyrood on Thursday.She will be replaced by either Mr Yousaf, Kate Forbes or Ash Regan when the ballot results are revealed on Monday.