Humza Yousaf appears to be like to ‘unify’ SNP members after calls to droop Nicola Sturgeon

Jun 13, 2023 at 5:37 PM
Humza Yousaf appears to be like to ‘unify’ SNP members after calls to droop Nicola Sturgeon

Humza Yousaf needs the SNP to have a “unified voice” and plans to talk to members amid requires Nicola Sturgeon to be suspended from the social gathering.

The first minister has already said he will not suspend his predecessor after she was arrested and later released without charge following a police probe into the SNP’s funding and funds.

Following Ms Sturgeon’s arrest, former SNP management candidate Ash Regan and SNP MSP Michelle Thomson each referred to as for the 52-year-old to resign the social gathering whip.

SNP MP Angus MacNeil additionally referred to as for “political distance” amid the “soap opera”, claiming Ms Sturgeon “suspended others from the SNP for an terrible lot much less” throughout her time in cost.

Speaking to journalists at Holyrood on Tuesday, Mr Yousaf mentioned there was no strain for Ms Sturgeon to resign.

He added: “I will speak to our group. I think it’s important that we have a unified voice in these matters. But I’m not going to stop MSPs from expressing their view – that is entirely their prerogative.”

First Minister Humza Yousaf speaks to the media after an SNP group meeting at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh. Picture date: Tuesday June 13, 2023.
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Mr Yousaf chatting with journalists at Holyrood on Tuesday

Ms Sturgeon was arrested on Sunday and questioned for round seven hours as a part of Operation Branchform.

The long-running Police Scotland inquiry is linked to the spending of round £600,000 raised by SNP supporters and earmarked for Scottish independence campaigning. It is known there have been complaints the ringfenced money has been used improperly by being spent elsewhere.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon with husband Peter Murrell as they cast their votes in the 2019 General Election at Broomhouse Park Community Hall in Glasgow.
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Ms Sturgeon’s husband was beforehand arrested and later launched with out cost too

Ms Sturgeon, who has denied any wrongdoing, is the third high-profile SNP member to be arrested in reference to the probe.

Her husband, ex-SNP chief govt Peter Murrell, and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie have been each arrested and later launched with out cost again in April.

Read extra:
Who is at the centre of the investigation?
The inside story of SNP police probe
Timeline of the SNP’s woes

Mr Yousaf denied being “weak” for not taking motion in opposition to Ms Sturgeon, who he described as Europe’s “most impressive” politician.

He mentioned: “I have shown consistency throughout this process.

“People are launched with out cost – there is no cause to droop them, I’ve made that clear. It’s the way in which I’ve handled different parliamentarians, for instance, and that is the way in which I’ll proceed.

“I know why the opposition want rid of Nicola Sturgeon out of here, because, of course, she’s thrashed them at every single election. So, hardly surprised at that.”

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Humza Yousaf explains determination to not droop Nicola Sturgeon

The first minister mentioned he had not spoken to Ms Sturgeon since her arrest.

He added: “It’s a very, very difficult time for her and a difficult time for our party, and personally painful to many of us too.”