Nicola Sturgeon arrested in SNP finances probe

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [The Independent]( June 12, 2023 [View online](   [Morning Headlines]( 1 /[Nicola Sturgeon arrested in investigation into SNP’s finances]( 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.]( The [former first minister was held in custody and questioned “as a suspect” by detectives]( looking into claims that £600,000 in donations for an independence campaign was misspent by the party. She was later released without charge pending further investigation. Following her release, she released a defiant statement protesting her innocence in “the strongest possible terms”. Ms Sturgeon said that the arrest was “both a shock and deeply distressing”. She continued: “Innocence is not just a presumption I am entitled to in law. I know beyond doubt that I am in fact innocent of any wrongdoing.” She thanked her “close circle of family and friends who are giving me much-needed strength at this time”. Ms Sturgeon, who stepped down in February after eight years leading the Scottish government, is the third high-profile SNP figure to be arrested as part of [Operation Branchform, the Police Scotland name for the investigation into Scotland’s governing party](.   2 /[Stop Boris Johnson standing as MP, top Tories urge]( Ex-PM blasted for ‘political mutiny’ as cabinet minister says the world has ‘moved on’ from Boris 3 / [Ofsted to make major changes to inspections system after suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry]( Perry’s family call overhaul ‘a start’ but say changes do not address their biggest concern 4 / [Two men charged over murder and disappearance of Chloe Mitchell, 21, in Ballymena]( Police launched murder inquiry after suspected human remains found in Ballymena 5 / [Uefa under more pressure from fans after Champions League final chaos]( Manchester City and Inter Milan supporters experienced lengthy journeys to the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul THE BIG QUESTION [Why have hundreds of rail fares almost halved?]( At last. Some good news on the railway: literally overnight hundreds of [rail fares]( almost halved. On Saturday evening an off-peak single ticket from York to London cost £130. On Sunday morning it became £68. From Berwick to Peterborough, the fare falls from £139 to £73. From today, return off-peak train fares have been scrapped in favour of simplified “single-leg” pricing. But before train travellers get too excited, this applies only to London North Eastern Railway ([LNER]() on the [East Coast main line](. How will removing some of the anomalies in the fares system affect your journey plans? Here are the key questions and answers, click below for the full list. 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[Read more here]( QUOTE OF THE DAY “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 more here](   OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE [British girl, 11, shot dead as she played on swings in family home in France]( [Tony Awards 2023: Full list of winners]( [The people stuck in loveless relationships: ‘I wasn’t strong enough to leave’](   Articles available exclusively to subscribers Lizzie Dearden -[British policing is having an identity crisis and the public are paying the price](   OTHER NEWSLETTERS YOU MIGHT LIKE [The Race Report]( The Race Report Fortnightly Written by Nadine White [Join now]( [The View from Westminster ]( The View from Westminster Every weekday Written by John Rentoul [Join now](   The Independent proudly partners with [Refuge]( and the [National Domestic Abuse Helpline](: 0808 2000 247 If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. 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