has reportedly been spending time at a luxury flat owned by crime writer and her close friend .

The former first minister has been seen leaving the property in Edinburgh's upmarket New Town as her relationship with her husband Peter Murrell broke down. She had said on after 15 years of marriage.

The 54-year-old politician was pictured earlier this month leaving the flat, which was reportedly bought in 2023 by the crime writer and her wife for £320,000. Ms Sturgeon and Ms McDermid have had a long friendship, with the book-loving politician often heaping praise on the works of the former journalist.

Photographs show Ms Sturgeon wearing a green jacket and clutching her mobile phone as she leaves the property. The pictures have emerged now, days after Ms Sturgeon posted online: "With a heavy heart I am confirming that Peter and I have decided to end our marriage. To all intents and purposes we have been separated for some time now and feel it is time to bring others up to speed with where we are. It goes without saying that we still care deeply for each other, and always will. We will be making no further comment."

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Speculation about Ms Sturgeon’s future with her husband has been ongoing for some time. In April last year, as crisis engulfed the SNP, Ms Sturgeon was seen without her wedding ring at a glitzy award ceremony.

And last year, Mr Murrell, 60, was following a police investigation into the party's finances. Ms Sturgeon was arrested and questioned in 2023 but was released without charges. She has however remained under investigation.

In December Ms Sturgeon told the she knows "nothing more" about the police investigation into finances. The Scottish politician, who stood down as first minister early 2023, said she wished the inquiry "wasn't there" but that she had no "control" over it. Speaking after being released by police in June 2023, Ms Sturgeon insisted "beyond doubt" she was "innocent of any wrongdoing".

The new pictures, published by , come about as Ms McDermid, an avid SNP supporter, prepares to take to the stage at Glasgow International Comedy Festival with Ms Sturgeon for their "Books and Banter" show.

In a statement promoting the event, they said: "Our love of books is what first drew us together and it remains the mainstay of that friendship. We’ll be interrogating our guests about the books that shaped them and why they love reading. Revelations galore await as we explore the love and laughter between the covers."