Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her husband, ex-SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, are ending their marriage.

Ms Sturgeon confirmed one of Scotland’s worst-kept secrets that the pair had been separated for some time. She moved out of the couple’s home in Baillieston, Glasgow, soon after Mr Murrell was arrested and later charged over the alleged embezzlement of donations to the SNP.

They became a couple in 2003, two years after he became chief executive and they married in 2010. At the time, Ms Sturgeon deputy to Alex Salmond.

Following an investigation into the party’s finances she was arrested and released without charge in June 2023. She insists she has done nothing wrong.

Confirming the couple’s separation in a post on Instagram today, she said: “With a heavy heart I am confirming that Peter and I have decided to end our marriage.

“To all intents and purposes we have been separated for some time now and feel it is time to bring others up to speed with where we are.

“It goes without saying that we still care deeply for each other, and always will. We will be making no further comment.”

In an interview last week with the Financial Times, Ms Sturgeon made further comments about Mr Salmond. His widow Moira later issued a statement saying she had suffered “great distress” having read “comments of those who seem determined to damage his reputation even in death”.

An SNP MSP since 1999, Ms Sturgeon has been criticised over her attendance record at Holyrood since resigning as FM early last year.

She is not expected to stand for re-election to the Scottish parliament in 2026 and is preparing for a life outside mainstream politics. She has appeared publicly at events with her friend, the crime novelist Val McDermid.

Ms Sturgeon’s memoirs are due to be published this year.