SNP still refusing to suspend Nicola Sturgeon despite mounting crisis engulfing party
The former First Minister of Scotland has been absent from Holyrood
PA
Scotland First Minister Humza Yousaf has faced renewed calls to suspend Nicola Sturgeon from the SNP as party officials remain silent on whether she will return to Holyrood this week.
The new SNP leader is under pressure to distance himself from his predecessor following the series of damaging events which have overshadowed his first few weeks in the job.
Senior Government figures believe the former First Minister is likely to face questions “imminently” from police over the probe into the party’s finances.
However, her spokesman yesterday refused to say whether she intends to return to Scottish parliament for the first time since the arrest of her husband, Peter Murrell, earlier this month.
Senior Government figures believe the former First Minister is likely to face questions ‘imminently’ from police.
Reuters
The ex-SNP chief executive was detained by police in connection with the investigation into the party’s finances.
He was later released without charge pending further investigations after an 11-hour detention.
Shortly after, the SNP’s treasurer Colin Beattie was also detained by officers investigating the party’s funding and finances.
He was also released without charge after his arrest.
Sturgeon is the only named office-holder on the latest SNP accounts not arrested in the probe.
Scottish Tory chairman Craig Hoy said: “It’s not surprising the SNP don’t want to talk about Nicola Sturgeon, given the toxic saga she appears to be embroiled in.
“However, Humza Yousaf’s refusal to suspend her from the SNP means he cannot continue to dodge legitimate questions over his former boss and mentor.
“The new First Minister must urgently come clean about what correspondence he has had with Nicola Sturgeon, Peter Murrell and [ex-SNP treasurer] Colin Beattie over the SNP’s finances.
Peter Murrell's arrest came as part of an investigation into SNP financesPA"He must now take decisive action to suspend all three from the SNP until this scandal is resolved.”He also said that Sturgeon “cannot be allowed to go into hiding.”
It comes after the former First Minister did not attend Holyrood last week “in order to ensure the focus is on the new First Minister setting out his priorities for the people of Scotland.”
She instead took park remotely to ensure she remained present at Holyrood meetings.
Sturgeon is the only named office-holder on the latest SNP accounts not arrested in the probe.