'I TRIED TO MAKE OUR COUNTRY A BETTER PLACE

Sturgeon 'sad' that parly career is ending | She insists SNP fraud probe not reason for move

- BY PAUL HUTCHEON

NICOLA Sturgeon is quitting Holyrood amid an ongoing probe into SNP fraud claims, insisting she tried to "make Scotland a better place".

The ex-FM joined a growing list of SNP MSPs standing down at the next election.

John Swinney, the current first minister, said she had changed the lives of Scots "for the better".

Sturgeon was the longest serving first minister, having been in post for nearly nine years between 2014 and 2023.

Her time in charge was marked by Brexit, Covid lockdown, a failure to achieve a second independence referendum and a spectacular falling out with predecessor Alex Salmond.

Her final year as FM was dogged by Operation Branchform, which is probing how £600,000 IndyRef2 donations were spent when she was leader.

Her estranged husband, Peter Murrell, was SNP chief executive at the time and has been charged in connection with embezzlement. She was arrested in 2023 but released without charge.

Police presented their findings to prosecutors last year and the case is with the Crown Office.

Sturgeon revealed her decision in a letter to SNP members in her Glasgow Southside constituency, saying: "I am writing to let you know I have decided not to seek re-election to the Scottish Parliament next year.

"Reaching this decision has been far from easy, however, I have known in my heart for a while that the time is right for me to embrace different opportunities in a new chapter of my life, and to allow you to select a new standard bearer.

"Whoever you choose will have my full support and I look forward to campaigning alongside you to ensure that Glasgow Southside remains an SNP-held constituency.