Nicola Sturgeon has made her debut at a comedy pageant, two days after being informed she is not beneath investigation within the police probe into the SNP’s funds.
The previous first minister and the crime writer Val McDermid appeared collectively on the King’s Theatre in Glasgow for a efficiency known as Books and Banter.
Sturgeon was greeted with applause as she entered, and briefly referenced the week’s occasions, including: “Would not have gotten by way of the previous few years with out Val.”
On Thursday police confirmed the former SNP leader will face no further action of their long-running investigation, known as Operation Branchform.
Sturgeon’s Glasgow Comedy Pageant look was first announced last November and comes after she beforehand held various “in dialog with” occasions throughout the nation with McDermid.
After strolling onto the stage, she mentioned: “The final couple of years have been attention-grabbing. The final couple of weeks have been attention-grabbing.
“Would not have gotten by way of the previous few years with out Val
“From the underside of my coronary heart, thanks all for the assist.”
Val McDermid mentioned it was a big day and that her buddy was now “free and out on the earth”.
“Delighted to welcome Nicola right here tonight to start out this new chapter,” she added.
Later within the occasion, Ashley Storrie, daughter of the late comic Janey Godley, joined the pair on stage to mirror on her comedy Dinosaur and her mom.
Janey Godley, who died from most cancers just lately, turned mates with Sturgeon after posting voiced-over spoof variations of the previous first minister’s Covid briefings.
The Books and Banter present additionally featured crime writer Christopher Brookmyre.
Sturgeon was arrested after which launched with out cost in June 2023, and on Thursday mentioned there had been a “cloud of investigation” hanging over her since then.
Talking to journalists exterior her Glasgow house she mentioned: “I feel it will not shock anyone to listen to me say that has not been a straightforward expertise. So to succeed in this level right this moment is clearly one thing I’m relieved about.
“I’ve accomplished nothing improper, and I do not assume there was ever a scrap of proof that I had accomplished something improper.”
Sturgeon introduced earlier this month she would not stand for re-election within the 2026 Holyrood election, however on Friday First Minister John Swinney mentioned he would “look ahead” to her campaigning efforts for the SNP sooner or later.
His feedback got here after Sturgeon hung out serving to her election agent, Mhairi Hunter, win a by-election for a seat on Glasgow Metropolis Council this week.
