The former First Minister of the Scottish National Party has been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into the party’s financing and finances.

The police confirmed a 52-year-old woman had been arrested as a suspect and she is currently being questioned.

Her arrest follows the April arrest and subsequent release of her husband, ex-SNP chief executive Peter Murrell.

In a statement, Ms Sturgeon confirmed that she had attended a police interview by arrangement on Sunday.

A team of officers investigating what happened to more than £600,000 in donations given to the party by independence activists arrested and questioned the former SNP leader in March.

The spokeswoman said: “Nicola Sturgeon has today, Sunday 11 June, by arrangement with Police Scotland, attended an interview where she was to be arrested and questioned in relation to Operation Branchform.

“Nicola has consistently said she would cooperate with the investigation if asked and continues to do so.”

SNP MP Angus MacNeil has joined opposition parties in calling for Ms Sturgeon to be suspended from the party – arguing that “this soap-opera has gone far enough”.