police scotland say a 52—year—old woman was in custody being questioned as part of its investigation into the scottish national party's funding. a spokesperson for nicola sturgeon said she voluntarily attended an interview with police scotland and that she would co—operate with the investigation. we start with breaking news in uk politics, and scottish police have arrested the former first minister, nicola sturgeon. a statement said it was in connection with an ongoing investigation into the scottish national party's finances. it said nicola sturgeon, who resigned in march after nine years in office, was in custody and being questioned. her arrest comes two months after her husband and former party chief executive, peter murrell, was arrested

and released without charge pending further investigations. their home was searched at the time. two weeks later, the former party treasurer, colin beattie was also questioned and released without charge. live now to our scotland correspondent, lorna gordon. dramatic news that scotland's longer serving first minister has been arrested in relation to investigations into the finance of the party. it is a long—running investigation that started about two weeks ago, when complaints were made in relation to about £600,000 that was donated to the snp by activists. that was supposed to be ring fenced

for a second independence referendum, and police scotland, after these complaints were made, launched what they made 0peration branchform, to examine what happens to this money. so, it has been long—running police investigation. very little has happened publicly, but it has been bubbling along in the background. very little has happened publicly and visibly, until the last couple of months, when, as you said, on the 5th of april, peter murrell, nicola sturgeon�*s husband who was the former chief executive of the snp, was arrested and questioned by police. he was later released without charge, pending further investigation, but at that point, you saw the images of the police entering his and nicola sturgeon�*s home in glasgow. white tents erected outside their house. you saw police entering the snp headquarters in edinburgh, removing boxes of documents as well. two weeks later, the former treasurer of

the snp was arrested. it was the second bombshell, his name was colin beattie. he was questioned for several hours and again, released without charge pending further investigation. as i understand, the law, you can be rearrested at a later date for further questioning, but at this point in time, nobody has been charged. they have been plenty of spec elation, not least in political circles about whether or not nicola sturgeon would be arrested, not least because she was the third signatory to the snp party accounts. and today, that indeed has happened. i think the timing has properly taken people by surprise. this happening on a sunday. but the police released a statement saying she has been arrested as a suspect in connection with this ongoing investigation. a spokesperson saying that this was by arrangement, that she attended this interview. we don't know what the police station

she is being questioned at. and the snp also saying, emphasising that this is a live police investigation, that they say they have been cooperating fully with the investigation and will continue to do so. however, it is not appropriate, they say, to publicly address any issues for the investigation is ongoing. that is because the law here in scotland around what is known as contempt of court is very, very strict. at the point when someone is arrested, you can't really speculate about what might be happening in that interview, or what might be the course of action the police follow. they have been working slowly and steadily. they have been keen to emphasise all along, from the head of police scotland is down, that this is an independent investigation, quite apart from politics. they are under no political pressure, they say. they are just following the lines of inquiry as they develop. figs are just following the lines of inquiry as they develop. as police continue their— inquiry as they develop. as police continue their investigation, - inquiry as they develop. as police | continue their investigation, there is obviously a lot of political reaction to this. butjust

contextualise for as, what is the political landscape in which all of this is happening, looking like at the moment? you this is happening, looking like at the moment?— this is happening, looking like at the moment? ., ~ ., ,, , the moment? you know, the snp is the dominant political— the moment? you know, the snp is the dominant political force _ the moment? you know, the snp is the dominant political force here _ the moment? you know, the snp is the dominant political force here in - dominant politicalforce here in scotland. and has been for many years. they are the party of government at holyrood. they won first an election where they were a minority government, and then they won a majority in a system which was designed, many believe, to never allow any one party to have a majority of seats in the parliament. but they managed it. at the moment, if they were serving alone, they would be a minority government, but they are in coalition with the green party, so they have a majority again. they also have a significant number of mps representing scottish constituencies at westminster. but they are under pressure. if you look

at the polling, it would suggest that labour, for instance, might get as many as 15 seats at the next general election, which could come within 12 or 15 months. so, labour are eyeing scotland, looking at what is happening here very closely in terms of the possible shifting sands politically. they are under pressure with some of their policies that were brought in under the nicola sturgeon era. they have delayed what is known as the deposit return scheme. they are fighting in court the gender recognition reform bill. it is very hard for humza yousaf to put a reset on these policies. use the new first minister here in scotland. he is nicola sturgeon�*s successor. very hard for him to start with a clean slate, and say this is a fresh government, when all of the time, this investigation is ongoing and senior members of his party are being by police. he has, he said, in an interview that went out this morning, spoken to nicola

sturgeon. he of course, emphasised he cannot comment on a live, ongoing police investigation. but he did say he has been speaking to her, and asked about her welfare. he said it has been very stressful for nicola sturgeon, but he said that she was in a good place and doing well. but this afternoon, she is being questioned by police. we will have 12 hours under scots law to question her, before you can either be charged with a crime or released while inquiries continue.- charged with a crime or released while inquiries continue. thank you very much- — while inquiries continue. thank you very much. lorna _ while inquiries continue. thank you very much. lorna gordon _ while inquiries continue. thank you very much. lorna gordon joining i while inquiries continue. thank you very much. lorna gordonjoining us from glasgow there. now, let's go live to ian murray, shadow secretary of state for scotland and labour mp for edinburgh self. thank you for talking to us. let's start by getting your reaction to this news. i don't think anyone is shocked that nicola sturgeon has been arrested. i is shocked that nicola sturgeon has been arrested.— been arrested. i think it was lookin: been arrested. i think it was looking inevitable _ been arrested. i think it was looking inevitable given - been arrested. i think it was looking inevitable given the| been arrested. i think it was - looking inevitable given the scandal thatis looking inevitable given the scandal that is engulfing the scottish national party and their finances at the moment. but she will be the

first prime minister of first minister in history to be arrested by the police, and indeed, the first current sitting leader of any political party since jeremy thorpe in the 1970s. that is how serious this is. and i think the scots will be looking over their television screens tonight in disbelief that they are going through the worst cost of living crisis in history, they have a uk and scottish government, and a conservative party and snp party completely and utterly in disarray all talking to themselves.— in disarray all talking to themselves. ., ., _ themselves. we are obviously limited in what we can _ themselves. we are obviously limited in what we can say _ themselves. we are obviously limited in what we can say about _ themselves. we are obviously limited in what we can say about the - themselves. we are obviously limited in what we can say about the ongoing| in what we can say about the ongoing investigation. but looking out of the political impact this is going to have, what do you see that being? 0ne, to have, what do you see that being? one, i think that the scottish people have lost trust in the snp and the scottish government. there is no doubt they have been engulfed in secrecy for a long time. they have been moving from one scandal to the next at a time when one in seven scots are on nhs waiting lists, and we are going for the worst cost of living crisis in history. there is no doubt their record over the last

16 years of snp government is pretty appalling for every measure you can take in terms of public services, the economy and jobs, etc. they want to go back both governments of the uk and scotland to work with the problems we have at the moment, and what we are seeing blue tents on the lawns of first ministers. they have police investigations, the former first minister and a husband being arrested and many members of the snp group, who were involved in the accounts, being arrested as well. so, this is an appalling scandal at a time when scotland desperately needs change and desperately needs a government working for them to deal with their priorities, and they are certainly not getting that at the moment from either of the governments.— moment from either of the governments. moment from either of the covernments. ., ., ., governments. humza yousaf would say that is what he — governments. humza yousaf would say that is what he is _ governments. humza yousaf would say that is what he is trying _ governments. humza yousaf would say that is what he is trying to _ governments. humza yousaf would say that is what he is trying to do. - governments. humza yousaf would say that is what he is trying to do. he - that is what he is trying to do. he is trying to move on, and get back to policy, and talking about the things that people need. but this is quite frankly, out of his hands. there is nothing he can do about this investigation.— there is nothing he can do about this investigation. perhaps the new first minister, _ this investigation. perhaps the new first minister, and _ this investigation. perhaps the new first minister, and yousaf - this investigation. perhaps the new first minister, and yousaf could - first minister, and yousaf could perhaps tell us what he knew, and

when, when he was informed by the former first minister nicola sturgeon of 20 would be arrested, or if she had been arrested, why she resigned. there is no doubt there are still many questions to be answered about why she resigned so quickly. nicola sturgeon informed the press yesterday afternoon she had passed her driving theory test, putting into context the fact that she is always in front of the press, and trying to manage her image and cue medications. and yet, nobody knew she was going to resign. so there are lots of questions for both nicola sturgeon to answer, when the investigation is concluded, and for the current first minister to answer in terms of what he knew and when, but also when he plans to get his party out of the scandal, in order to try to deal with the priorities of the scottish people. and if you see them on laura queens by was much of this money, it is quickly his number one priority at the moment is independence, and that is so far down the list approaches for the scottish people, that you wonder why he is first minister at all. it is

interesting — he is first minister at all. it is interesting you _ he is first minister at all. it is interesting you say _ he is first minister at all. it is interesting you say that as far down the list of most scottish people's concerns. but what is your view on how the movement for independence will be affected by this? because nicola sturgeon cut a very prom in i know you talked about a previous poll, but the average of all the polls show that the yes campaign is going backwards and below the 45% they pulled in 2016. the reason they pulled in 2016. the reason they are going backwards, is that it is not a priority for scottish people at the moment. because the priorities of the scottish people are the same as everyone else across the uk, the cost of living, the nhs, waiting times, the economy, jobs education. and they have been badly let down those matrixes. the second is that not only is it not our priority, but we now see that the proposition is being put to them by the snp has been burst in terms of all the questions that are still

being required to answered in terms of what an independent scotland would look like. the third thing is at the snp has let people down, they are engulfed in scandal, and people have many more questions than they are getting answers to, and the current first minister is not up to thejob. perhaps, at the end of this we can, but is across the united kingdom, will look at both governments will look at both in holyrood and was mr, that we will have a general election both in holyrood and westminster to decide whether they think the current first minister is on the right track. i5 minister is on the right track. is at the dell your view, that this is at the dell your view, that this is a big enough view, that it will have an impact on the snp electorally? i think it will. there is no doubt that some of the support for independence is pretty strong, and they see the snp is the vehicle for delivering that. but that is becoming a much more diminished number now, while people are worried about their relatives and friends on nhs waiting list. they are worried about theirjobs, and their children's education. we have the island community is almost cut off

because they can't get any ferries that are the response ability of the scottish cabinet. we have policy after policy that has been thrown in the bin, whether that be the gender recognition act, 0r the bin, whether that be the gender recognition act, or the deposit return scheme. there is nothing happening at the moment, that the scottish governance can say is positive, in terms of what they have put together. scottish people will be looking atjust believe in a television screen site, that the former first minister, somebody held up former first minister, somebody held up as being for them and for the scottish parliament and a scottish governor, being arrested and questioned by the police. —— at the scottish government. maybe some of the questions being answered by these events.— the questions being answered by these events. ~ ., ., , ., ., these events. what are you hearing from our these events. what are you hearing from your constituents _ these events. what are you hearing from your constituents about - these events. what are you hearing from your constituents about the i from your constituents about the issues that they want the government to focus on? by. issues that they want the government to focus on?— to focus on? by, my postbag will be the same as — to focus on? by, my postbag will be the same as everyone _ to focus on? by, my postbag will be the same as everyone else's - to focus on? by, my postbag will be| the same as everyone else's postbag across scotland and the rest of the uk. it is the cost of living crisis, and the fact that they have crushed the economy, so mortgage rates are going much faster than our peers, so

people can no longer afford a mortgage. people sitting on nhs waiting list. they are worried about their children's education, as scotland plummets down the league tables of education. they are worried about the economy, and the financing of local services, as local government funding has been decimated. the charges she tabled a scottish garment alone, let alone for the first minister, being arrested. it is very lengthy, and huge, and if we don't seem to have a functioning government in scotland or in the uk that can do anything about it. —— the scottish government alone. we about it. -- the scottish government alone. . ., ,, . ., about it. -- the scottish government alone. . ., ,, .., about it. -- the scottish government alone. ~ ., ,, .. .,~ alone. we appreciate you taking the time to talk — alone. we appreciate you taking the time to talk to _ alone. we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us. _ alone. we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us. ian _ alone. we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us. ian murray - alone. we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us. ian murray is - time to talk to us. ian murray is the secretary of skate for scotland. former bbc scotland political editor — brian taylor told us if he saw this moment coming. there was anticipation that given

they had arrested the former treasurer of the party and peter merrill, what was left? it had to be the boss. at the time that this issue of finance is raised, and that the boss was of course nicola sturgeon, until she stood down as leader and stood down as first minister. it was expected after the arrests of colin beattie and peter murrell, that any day, there was a kind of grim humour going round holyrood, that any day now we'll be hearing that a 52—year—old woman is helping police scotland with inquiries. it has taken a bit longer than expected. in the last few minutes saying that she always intended to cooperate, and has cooperated at all stages with the police, and will continue to do so. she also adds that neither she nor mr murrell are staying at their home in glasgow. she is issuing that statement to avoid the place being besieged by the media, and the neighbours being disturbed, and she is not staying with relatives either. appealing for a degree of peace with regard to that.

but of course, as jamie said there, this is quite a remarkable development. we must bear in mind that the previous two people who were arrested were released without charge. it is entirely possible that the same will happen with regard to miss sturgeon. but it is also entirely obvious that police are taking this exceptionally seriously, where it is coming to the point of nicola sturgeon being taken into custody. taken into custody for questioning. quite right. and despite that appeal for peace and calm, this is likely to cause a media storm, isn't it? it will certainly cause that. the media storm has only abated for a slight degree in order to arise again with this development. this is a hideous dilemma and problem and conundrum for sturgeon�*s successor humza yousaf. he was not the leader of the party at the time these accusations relate to.

it relates to money being raised in independence campaign, and questions as to what became of that money. he was not the leader or the treasurer of the party at that time. he was not responsible for these elements. he is not in a position to respond to these questions. and yet, he is the one in place to take the political flak, in a sort of grim children's game, where it's going round and round and he is landing in the chair at the time that the hammer descends. he has to face the flak, and they have particular governmental problems in the scottish government as well over the health service, economy, education failures, etc. failures, ferries etc. he doesn't need this. he really doesn't. as you say, this is a headache humza yousaf would rather not have. so far, how have members of the public responded to these going ons within the snp? it is difficult to gauge that, because

there is a degree bewilderment and bemusement. by definition, given it is a police inquiry, ratherthan a court case, a public inquiry, the full details are not coming to light, such as the full details may be. snp representatives has repeatedly said that nothing was done wrong. and they have answers to the questions that are coming. but as you heard earlier from previous contributors, now for some two years. it has been constantly in the background and occasionally bubbling like today, in the past half hour, very vigorously and sharply into the foreground. it is difficult to know the public mood. does it help the snp? it is hardly a good look. the optics are decidedly sub—prime, when you see police searching the home of the former party leader. when you see them searching the home of party headquarters in edinburgh, taking away documentation, it is not a good look, bluntly, for the snp. and for the current leader humza yousaf. and he can do almost

nothing about it. this operation began back in 2021, is there still a long road ahead for the snp? the police are not declaring anything with regard to that. the background was that some £666,000 plus was raised, post the brexit referendum, in anticipation of a further independence referendum. the question is what became of that cash. various snp figures as i say, are adamant that they have answers to give, and that they have responses to give to the investigations coming from the police. this will take as long as it takes, with regard to the police, they are obviously demonstrating. one thing to perhaps comment, they are obviously demonstrating that they are pursuing this extremely assiduously. they don't want any suggestion of anything approaching or tantamount to a cover—up. it is scarcely a cover up when the chief executive and now the former party leader are being arrested and taken into custody. and questioned. as i say, almost nothing that humza yousaf can do about this. he can't intervene,

of course, in the police inquiry. he cannot intervene in any deliberations by the crown 0ffice and procurator, the fiscal service who determine whether charges are brought forward. he can't intervene. all he can do is hope and trust that this will at some point subside, and he can get back to the business of governing, which frankly, as i mentioned earlier is difficult enough. speaking to brian taylor and discussing that breaking news that nicola sturgeon the former first minister of scotland has been arrested by police who are investigating allegations of financial misconduct by the scottish national party. she first quits as snp leader and first minister in early april. she is the third person to be arrested as part of operation branch form, which is investigation into allegations that more than £600,000 of donations for an independence campaign was spent. you

can follow along with that breaking news online. nicola sturgeon has been arrested by police. we will bring you more on that as we get it, but right now, that show you these pictures. manchester airport where the triumphant manchester city team have just arrived back from istanbul following their victory in the champions league final on saturday evening. you might have been watching. that 1-0 you might have been watching. that 1—0 victory over inter milan follows a series of victories with pep guardiola, they became only the second english side to complete the treble, and that is following on from manchester united's success in 1999. so, there is a whole host of celebrations planned after the team has arrived. we will bring you more live pictures as we get them. let's

now go and speak to paul murphy, who is our correspondent at the airport. we can get a taste of what is happening now. there must be a lot of anticipation there. aha, happening now. there must be a lot of anticipation there.— of anticipation there. a huge sense of anticipation there. a huge sense of excitement, _ of anticipation there. a huge sense of excitement, and _ of anticipation there. a huge sense of excitement, and a _ of anticipation there. a huge sense of excitement, and a great - of anticipation there. a huge sense of excitement, and a great deal- of anticipation there. a huge sense of excitement, and a great deal of| of excitement, and a great deal of happiness as this plane touched down within the last few minutes. you mightjust be able to make out a very thin sliver of its tail fin over the, just beyond that kind of holding area. it is decked out in the manchester city colours. an amazing site. about three hours and 42 minutes to get from istanbul to manchester airport. 42 minutes to get from istanbul to manchesterairport. but 42 minutes to get from istanbul to manchester airport. but as you say, that footballing journey has been much longer. it has taken decades to get what these fans wanted. a historic victory last night in istanbul. we certainly talk to the fans down at the perimeter fence there. they have watched the plane come in. but this is only the beginning of the celebrations here in manchester. the players will be given a bit of a night after night. a time to decompress. i think that's

plain, there might have been some liberal use of paracetamol and bottled water, if we're being honest. but they will have a quieter time tonight. and tomorrow, the more formal celebrations really get up. a open top bus tour, trophy presentations, concerts in the city centre. all beginning tomorrow evening. a huge party, involving goodness knows how many thousands of people. certainly, the like of this manchester is unlikely to see again. so, a sunny beautiful day here in manchester. appropriately enough for a reallyjoyous event for the city, and for the fans who have welcomed this aircraft home. find and for the fans who have welcomed this aircraft home.— this aircraft home. and what is the feelin: this aircraft home. and what is the feeling there. _ this aircraft home. and what is the feeling there, paul? _ this aircraft home. and what is the feeling there, paul? is— this aircraft home. and what is the feeling there, paul? is it _ this aircraft home. and what is the feeling there, paul? is it the - this aircraft home. and what is the | feeling there, paul? is it the sense that we knew this was going to happen, and it did? 0r that we knew this was going to happen, and it did? or is itjust total disbelief? because this is an epic achievement.— total disbelief? because this is an epic achievement. yes. i think there was a kind of— epic achievement. yes. i think there was a kind of core _ epic achievement. yes. i think there was a kind of core belief _ epic achievement. yes. i think there was a kind of core belief that - epic achievement. yes. i think there was a kind of core belief that they i was a kind of core belief that they could do it. sorry, i am getting a

bit of interference on my earpiece. i will carry on. there was a core belief that they could do it, and a real optimism. and the fan base really did believe in what these players were capable of. of course, the manager, this remarkable individual that football really hasn't seen the like of ever before hasn't seen the like of ever before has been a huge influence on the team for some time now. and also, a great source of inspiration for the fans and the players alike. so, yes. people are still pinching themselves. they will be a lot of manchester city fans who have traditionally walked a bit in the shadow of man united in the city. they will be holding their heads up high from now on, because the last team to win the treble was of course man united, back in 1999. so, lots of pride at stake. this is now a very proud club. a great deal of confidence. a lot already being said about the economic benefits, the

lift this will give to the area. and of course, the celebrations tomorrow will be a chance for the club to thank its fans poured all the support they have given them over the years. —— for all of the support. a truly historic day tomorrow. support. a truly historic day tomorrow-— support. a truly historic day tomorrow. . ., , , support. a truly historic day tomorrow. . . , , . tomorrow. there will certainly be a lot of celebration. _ tomorrow. there will certainly be a lot of celebration. we _ tomorrow. there will certainly be a lot of celebration. we will - tomorrow. there will certainly be a lot of celebration. we will be - lot of celebration. we will be covering all the celebrations here on bbc news. they will be a big parade tomorrow. sections of oxford street and holland street in manchester city have been closed today in preparation for the celebrations tomorrow. we will cover all of that for you here on bbc news. stay with us. lots more ahead. don't go away. it has been another hot and humid

day but we are starting to see changes. the clouds are brewing and the heat has not been as stubborn as yesterday. we have seen some sharper showers developing down into the south—west over the last few hours. you can see the last signs of this thunderstorm is now starting to break out. i suspect over the next few hours, those winter storms are likely once again, to become more widespread. particularly across england and wales to close out our sunday evening. probablyjust in time for an evening family barbecue, i'm afraid. so, you could also see more persistent rain moving out of dorset across gloucestershire, and “p dorset across gloucestershire, and up into south wales. we could have a couple inches of rainfall here on top of this thunderstorm is as well top of this thunderstorm is as well to look out for. it may well lead to some localised flooding in places. that rain clearing slowly away from south wales. it stays misty and murky down into the south—west. we give some cloud into northern scotland, but elsewhere, once again, it will be another uncomfortable humid night for trying to get a good

night's sleep. with overnight lows in london only 17 or 18 degrees. the south—west starts off cloudy and murky, but another hot and humid affairfor most of murky, but another hot and humid affair for most of us, and that most again, where the humidity will spark up again, where the humidity will spark up some sharp, potentially thundery downpours into the afternoon. as you can see, quite widespread the showers, across england and wales on monday. northern england should be widely fine, with just a few isolated showers, a few isolated showers to the west of northern ireland. they will be some drifting and making their way across scotland as well. in terms of the feel of the weather, we are still going to keep that humility for the early part of the week. so, mid to high 20s, quite widely across the country on monday. and potentially into tuesday. and that, as we had quite a hot weekend, is the threshold for heatwave conditions, and it is going to stay pretty warm through the night as well. there are indications or something just that little bit more comfortable as we head towards

tuesday. so, if you're trying to plan your big head, i can tell you the beginning of the week starts hot and humid, with the risk of thunderstorms. —— plan your week ahead. a little later on, less humid, staying sunny and dry.

this is bbc news. the headlines: the former scottish first minister, nicola sturgeon has been arrested by police scotland as a suspect in an investigation into the scottish national party's funding.

a spokesperson for ms sturgeon said she had voluntarily