SNP treasurer Colin Beattie has been arrested in reference to a Police Scotland investigation into the occasion’s funds, the newest improvement in saga engulfing the occasion in energy in Scotland.
First minister Humza Yousaf is going through calls to droop Nicola Sturgeon and people underneath investigation, after Mr Beattie was taken into custody on Tuesday morning for questioning by detectives.
It follows the arrest of chief government Peter Murrell, Ms Sturgeon’s husband, in reference to the probe. He was later launched with out cost pending additional inquiries.
The probe into £660,000 raised particularly for Scottish independence campaigning was launched after it was alleged cash was diverted from the “ring-fenced” fund – sparking the exit of senior individuals from the SNP.
Mr Beattie is a long-serving treasurer of the SNP, having held the submit from 2004 till 2020, after which once more since 2021. The 71-year-old has additionally been the MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh because the 2011 Holyrood elections.
Mr Yousaf has mentioned he does “not imagine” that the SNP is working in a legal approach after the arrest – saying he was “stunned when considered one of my colleagues has been arrested”.
Questioned by reporters if the SNP was working criminally, the primary minister advised reporters: “No, actually I don’t imagine it’s in any respect, no.”
Mr Yousaf mentioned he wished to debate “pertinent points” about Mr Beattie’s function because the SNP treasurer – and his function on the Scottish parliament’s public audit committee – with him every time he’s launched by police.
“I’ll have to talk to Colin Beattie. My understanding is he’s nonetheless within the police station being questioned,” he advised reporters at lunchtime on Tuesday.
“Clearly when he’s off that, I’ll have a phrase with Colin – not concerning the stay investigation – however clearly there are pertinent points round public audit committee and naturally his roles as nationwide treasurer.”
Humza Yousaf confronted questions on turmoil at FMQs
(Getty Photographs)
A Police Scotland spokesperson mentioned: “A 71-year-old man has at this time, Tuesday, 18 April 2023, been arrested as a suspect in reference to the continued investigation into the funding and funds of the Scottish Nationwide Get together.”
An SNP spokesperson mentioned: “We now have no touch upon a stay police investigation.”
There have been additional media studies over the weekend concerning Ms Sturgeon’s function within the SNP’s funds. The Sunday Mail cited leaked emails which appeared to point out she had blocked plans to rent a fundraising supervisor for the occasion regardless of issues about transparency.
Police Scotland detectives are mentioned to have been handed emails displaying Ms Sturgeon quashed the thought in June 2021. The Mail additionally printed a video wherein Ms Sturgeon advised the occasion’s Nationwide Govt Committee that there have been no issues with the accounts.
Jackie Baillie, the Scottish Labour deputy chief, known as on Mr Yousaf to droop these underneath investigation. “For too lengthy, a tradition of secrecy and cover-up has been allowed to fester on the coronary heart of the SNP,” she mentioned.
Nicola Sturgeon talking to reporters outdoors her dwelling
(PA Wire)
She added: “And whereas the investigation spreads, the SNP remains to be refusing to take the essential step of suspending MSPs who’re the topic of police inquiries. Humza Yousaf’s inaction raises questions – is his precedence the duvet as much as shield the SNP or the individuals of Scotland?”
Craig Hoy, the chair of the Scottish Conservatives, mentioned the police investigation was “consuming” the SNP and urged the occasion’s chief to “get a grip of the state of affairs”.
Mr Hoy mentioned: “He should present some management and droop Colin Beattie – together with Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon. Colin Beattie must also stand down from membership of the Public Audit Committee till the conclusion of the investigation.”
Colin Beattie and officers raiding SNP headquarters earlier this month
(Corbis/Getty)
He added: “This extraordinarily severe matter is escalating by the day and everybody within the SNP has an obligation to be as clear as potential about what they knew and when.”
Ash Regan – who got here final within the SNP management contest – has mentioned that she has “some sympathy” with these saying the competition ought to now be re-run given the continued turmoil.
Ms Reagan advised BBC Radio 4 that she was “fairly shocked” by Mr Beattie’s arrest “and I believe some motion ought to be taken by Mr Yousaf”.
Requested if Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell ought to be suspended, she advised the BBC: “Whether it is discovered that folks have been concerned in one thing of this example, till that may be cleared up … they need to be suspended from the occasion.” However she later clarified that SNP figures ought to solely be suspended if “vital wrongdoing” was discovered.
In the meantime, in a major climbdown, Mr Yousaf introduced that the Scottish authorities would delay the introduction of the controversial bottle deposit scheme till March 2024.
The primary minister additionally promised to “return to the drafting board” on SNP plans to introduce additional restrictions on alcohol promoting.
Scottish Labour chief Anas Sarwar mentioned Mr Yousaf was “not operating a functioning authorities”, whereas Meghan Gallacher, deputy chief of the Scottish Tories, mentioned the SNP was in “whole meltdown”.
