Sturgeon: My resignation a coincidence of timing

Former first minister opens up on storm since quitting

- ANDREW QUINN

NICOLA Sturgeon has insisted her resignation just weeks before the arrest of her husband was a “coincidence of timing”.

The then-SNP leader stunned the political world when she announced her intention to quit as First Minister on February 15 last year.

She officially left office on March 28 – days before former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell was arrested on April 5 as part of an ongoing investigation into SNP finances.

MSP Colin Beattie, the party’s then treasurer, was arrested on April 18 last year before being released without charge. Sturgeon was arrested and questioned for several hours on June 11 last year before also being released without charge. She has denied any wrongdoing.