JOHN Swinney has said he shares "the relief" Nicola Sturgeon and Colin Beattie will feel after both were cleared of any wrongdoing following a probe into the SNP's finances.
Police Scotland confirmed their probe into former first minister Sturgeon and former SNP treasurer Beattie had concluded with no charges brought.
It comes after former SNP chief executive and Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell appeared in court on Thursday charged with embezzlement. He made no plea and was bailed.
Sturgeon confirmed she had separated from Murrell earlier this year.
Swinney, who was Sturgeon's deputy for many years, told the BBC: "This will have been a very difficult and challenging experience for Nicola Sturgeon and for Colin Beattie, and I know they will be relieved by the outcome of the proceedings today.
"I share that relief for them and I hope this provides the opportunity for Nicola and Colin to move on."
Asked about the impact the Police Scotland investigation has had on the SNP, Swinney says it has "of course" contributed to the difficult times recently faced by the party".
Swinney went on to say the party has been an “alleged victim of embezzlement”.
"What people should also know is that in my leadership of the Scottish National Party there will always be the highest standards of governance and financial control in place to make sure the SNP has a very secure future," he said.
Asked if he was worried the probe will still be hanging over the party ahead of the 2026 Holyrood elections, he said: "We are in a much clearer position today.
"I think we can feel that some of the difficulties that we've experienced as a consequence of this investigation being under way have now moved on."
He said his “firm, principled leadership” should give people “confidence” about where the SNP is now, adding he is focussed on “the priorities of the people of Scotland directly, firmly and clearly".
"We are determined to bring hope to the people of Scotland through independence," he added.
Sturgeon said being cleared in relation to a police probe into the SNP’s finances is “the outcome I would always have expected”, in a statement outside her home.
She said she had a “cloud of investigation hanging over” her during Police Scotland’s long-running probe, which began in 2021 and has been investigating what happened to around £600,000 raised by the party for a second independence referendum campaign.
“I think it won’t surprise anybody to hear me say that it’s not been an easy experience, so to reach this point today it is obviously something I am relieved about," said Sturgeon.
She added there was never a “scrap of evidence” against her.
Beattie, meanwhile, said the investigation had given him and his family a "hard time" and he is relieved at the news of being cleared.
"I knew myself I'd done nothing wrong, but two years is a long time to be waiting for a result," he said.
"It's been a hard time for my family, for my wife, for myself and I still haven't quite taken it on board."
Murrell will return to court, but no date has been set.
