Nicola Sturgeon, former first minister 'completely in the clear' following police investigation<br /><br />After a process which has run for years, things have happened very quickly for Nicola Sturgeon over the past week.<br /><br />Last Tuesday she announced she was going to stand down from the Scottish Parliament, looking ahead to a new chapter in life after 27 years at Holyrood.<br /><br />Yesterday she underlined that writing is a big part of that, launching the title page and release date for her memoirs.<br /><br />And today a major cloud has been lifted from the horizon by the fact she is no longer the focus of the police investigation.<br /><br />Yes, there is still the prospect of her estranged husband facing a trial, having appeared in court this morning.<br /><br />There is no fixed timeline for any further appearance for Peter Murrell in the legal procedure; it could take many more months.<br /><br />But for Nicola Sturgeon, things have moved very swiftly indeed over the last few days.<br /><br />Today's events come just over a week after Nicola Sturgeon announced she was to stand down as an MSP.<br /><br />The ex-SNP leader confirmed she would not seek re-election at the Holyrood election in May next year.<br /><br />After announcing her decision on social media, she told BBC Scotland News her time in parliament had been a "privilege beyond words".<br /><br />She added: "But the time is right for me at this stage in my life to close the book on that chapter and open a new one."<br /><br />
