Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Monday that she and her husband, Peter Murrell, have decided to end their marriage. This decision comes nearly two years after

both were questioned as part of a police investigation into the handling of party funds.

Sturgeon, who served as Scotland’s longest-standing first minister from 2014 until her unexpected resignation in February 2023, confirmed the separation in a statement shared on Instagram. “With a heavy heart, I am confirming that Peter and I have decided to end our marriage. For all practical purposes, we have been separated for some time now and feel it is time to let others know,” she wrote.

The police investigation focuses on the disappearance of more than £600,000 ($727,000) raised by pro-independence campaigners in 2017. These funds were initially designated for the independence campaign but may have been used for other purposes.

In 2023, Murrell, who was the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) chief executive from 1999 until his resignation, was charged in connection with the alleged embezzlement of party funds. He has not made any public comments regarding the accusations, while Sturgeon has maintained that she is innocent of any wrongdoing.

During her tenure as SNP leader, Sturgeon achieved several electoral victories. However, she stepped down as first minister in early 2023, citing concerns that her leadership had become too polarizing to effectively advance Scotland’s independence agenda. Despite stepping down, she remains a member of the devolved parliament as an SNP lawmaker.

Since her resignation, Sturgeon’s reputation has been overshadowed by the ongoing police inquiry and criticism regarding her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Kenneth Halley, Wikimedia commons.