The husband of Scotland’s former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, who was arrested in connection with an investigation into Scottish National Party finances, has been released without charge.

Peter Murrell spent almost twelve hours in police custody for questioning.

Murrell resigned as the party’s chief executive last month, a post he had held since 1999. Sturgeon also stood down as first minister last month and was succeeded by Humza Yousaf.

In a statement shortly before he was released, Nicola Sturgeon said she had “no prior knowledge” of plans to arrest her husband.

Following the arrest, newly elected leader Yousaf said that it was “a difficult day” for the SNP, but that the party has “fully cooperated” with police and will continue to do so.

Police searched the couple’s home in Glasgow and have remained active at the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh.

Murrell was prominent figure in the Scottish National Party and has been married to Nicola Sturgeon since 2010.