Scotland’s former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has expressed relief after being told she will face no action in the Police Scotland investigation into the SNP’s finances.

The announcement came as her estranged husband, ex-party chief executive Peter Murrell, appeared at a private hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court charged with embezzlement. The 60-year-old made no plea and was granted bail.

Police Scotland also confirmed that the party’s former treasurer Colin Beattie was no longer under investigation.

Ms Sturgeon announced her resignation as First Minister and SNP leader in February 2023 after eight years in office and just weeks after saying she intended to carry on in the role. She denied her decision was influenced by the police investigation.

In April that year, police searched the home she shared with Mr Murrell as part of what became a four year inquiry – Operation Branchform – into what happened to £660,000 of donations given to the SNP by independence activists.

Police also searched the SNP’s headquarters in Edinburgh and confiscated a luxury motorhome parked in the driveway of Mr Murrell’s mother in Fife.

Making a statement outside her Glasgow home today, Ms Sturgeon said: “For almost two years, I have had this cloud of investigation hanging over me.

“I think it won’t surprise anybody to hear me say that has not been an easy experience. So to reach this point today is obviously something I am relieved about.

“I have done nothing wrong, and I don’t think there was ever a scrap of evidence that I had done anything wrong.”

Ms Sturgeon made no reference to Mr Murrell who was charged in April last year. He is understood to have resigned his SNP membership.

She said she had “exciting things coming up” including the publication of her book, which is titled Frankly and is set for release on 14 August.

Mr Beattie, the SNP MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, was arrested and released without charge in April 2023.

Today he said he was “delighted” to be told he was no longer under investigation, adding that there was “no question” in his mind that he had done anything wrong. He has said he will contest the seat next year, while Ms Sturgeon is leaving Holyrood.