Nicola Sturgeon has been lined up to appear on a television election night programme after the polls close on July 4.

It will be her first time in the studio as a pundit and she will appear on ITN alongside George Osborne, the Conservative chancellor from 2010 to 2016, and Ed Balls, the former shadow chancellor and economic secretary to the Treasury.

ITN’s coverage, Election 2024 Live: The Results, will be anchored by Tom Bradby, the ITV News at Ten presenter.

A year ago, on June 11 2023, the former first minister, who continues to be the SNP MSP for Glasgow Southside, was arrested by detectives then released without charge as part of Operation Branchform, the investigation into the funding and financing of the SNP.

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In mid-April this year her husband, Peter Murrell, the former SNP chief executive, was re-arrested and charged with embezzling SNP funds. He resigned from the party after he was charged.

After Mr Murrell’s arrest Ms Sturgeon said: “There is absolutely nothing I can say given the circumstances.”

Asked how difficult the situation was for her personally, she replied: “It is incredibly difficult, but that’s not the main issue here. So I can’t say any more, I’m not going to say any more.”

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Police Scotland have confirmed that the former first minister and SNP leader, who stood down from the roles in March last year and was succeeded by Humza Yousaf, remains under investigation as part of their inquiries.

Last weekend John Swinney, who succeeded Mr Yousaf as first minister last month, said at the weekend she she had a "huge contribution" to make to th SNP's general election campaign. 

Ms Sturgeon has been a low key presence in Holyrood since her resignation as first minister but has said she would support SNP candidates from “time to time” where necessary.

Now a backbencher she is writing her memoir.

Last week, at a literary event in Portobello, she said the experience felt “very therapeutic” adding that she had finished the first draft of the book and that it had proved much harder to write than she expected.

On the campaign trail, she is due to appear at a fundraiser next week for Stewart McDonald, her friend and colleague, who is facing a strong challenge in his Glasgow South seat from Labour candidate Gordon McKee, a key aide to shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, the MP for Edinburgh South.

The announcement earlier today of Ms Sturgeon's role as a ITN election night pundit was criticised by opponents.

It is unclear if Ms Sturgeon will be paid by ITN for her contribution to the election show.

Former Scottish Labour MSP Neil Findlay wrote on Twitter/X noted that the SNP were critical when Ruth Davidson was paid to be election night pundit.

"I wonder if Nicola Sturgeon Limited will be getting paid for her election punditry as I seem to recall quite a bit of SNP hostile comments (rightly so) when Ruth Davidson was paid for her election night role," he said.

Labour peer Lord Foulkes, a prominent critic of the SNP, wrote on X: "Outrageous that ITV are considering having her on their election results programme."