NICOLA Sturgeon has pulled out of a Westminster committee appearance after her husband was charged with embezzlement.

The former first minister was due to give evidence at the Scottish Affairs Committee on Monday but has now cancelled.

Her appearance was scheduled as part of the committee’s investigation into 25 years of devolution, which has featured sessions with her predecessor Alex Salmond as well as former secretaries of state for Scotland.

READ MORE: Peter Murrell resigns SNP membership following embezzlement charge

It comes after Peter Murrell (below) was last week charged with embezzling money from the SNP during his tenure as the party’s chief executive.

The National: Peter Murrell

Police are investigating the party’s finances over complaints about £600,000 which was earmarked for an independence campaign.

The news Sturgeon would not appear next week was broken during a meeting of the Scottish Affairs Committee by Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross.

He was given a ticking off by committee chair Pete Wishart, who said that had been discussed during a private session in “confidence”.

The National understands that Sturgeon's appearance is being rescheduled for another time. 

A spokesperson for Sturgeon said: "Nicola is happy to appear before the committee."