Nicola Sturgeon faces calls to stay away from the SNP's general election campaign following her husband's embezzlement charge as party fears wipeout

Nicola Sturgeon is facing calls to stay away from the SNP's general election campaign after her husband was charged by police.

The party's former leader is being urged to 'sit this one out' as senior SNP figures fear catastrophe when Scottish voters go to the polls.

The SNP's popularity has plummeted since the 2019 general election when Ms Sturgeon led her party to victory in 48 out of 59 seats in Scotland.

A recent YouGov mega-poll suggested the SNP would only win 19 seats at the next general election, with Labour winning 28 Scottish constituencies.

Ms Sturgeon quit as Scottish first minister and SNP leader in March last year.

It came weeks before both she and her husband, Peter Murrell, were arrested as part of Police Scotland's Operation Branchform probe into the SNP's finances.

Mr Murrell, the SNP's former chief executive, was re-arrested on Thursday before being charged in connection with the alleged embezzlement of funds. 

Ms Sturgeon - who has not been charged - is now under pressure to avoid SNP campaign events in the run-up to the general election.

Alex Neil, a former MSP who previously served as a top member of Ms Sturgeon's Scottish government, told the Sunday Times: 'We have got to face the facts, the party is facing an uphill struggle at the general election.

'The last thing we need is for people to be reminded of the shame and legacy associated with Nicola Sturgeon. She should sit this one out at home.'

The newspaper also quoted a figure previously close to Ms Sturgeon as calling for her to be suspended from the SNP following the latest development in Operation Branchform.

'I would suspend her now,' they said.

A Westminster SNP source added: 'Our lowest assessment of what would happen on a really, really bad night [at the general election] was we won 15 seats.

'Now people are saying if the election was held tomorrow we wouldn't get more than that. That's the impact Murrell's arrest has had.'

On Friday, Ms Sturgeon described matters as 'incredibly difficult' after her husband was charged by police.

She appealed for privacy as she spoke briefly to journalists outside the home in Glasgow that she shares with Mr Murrell.

Humza Yousaf, Ms Sturgeon's successor as SNP leader and First Minister, referred to Mr Murrell's arrest as he addressed a pro-independence rally in Glasgow on Saturday.

'The last 48 hours have been tough,' he said. 'They have been a shock for those of us in the independence movement and the SNP.

'Let me say this: You can't always control what happens in life but what you can choose is how you react.

'When it comes to obstacles that come our way, just because obstacles are thrown in our way, are we going to pack up and go home?

'We are going to fight for what we believe in. In the last few days they have said the independence movement is finished.

'You don't look finished to me, my friends.'

The Believe in Scotland march went from Kelvin Way to George Square in Glasgow, accompanied by drummers and bagpipers.

Around 2,000 people joined the rally which was also attended by Line Of Duty star Martin Compston.