Now SNP faces calls to droop Nicola Sturgeon from social gathering after her arrest

The SNP is going through calls to droop Nicola Sturgeon from the social gathering after her arrest at the moment. The former First Minister was taken into custody by Police Scotland earlier as a part of the investigation into the SNP’s funds.

Scottish Conservative Chairman Craig Hoy known as for present SNP First Minister Humza Yousaf to right away droop her membership from the social gathering.

He stated: “Nicola Sturgeon and different senior SNP figures – together with Humza Yousaf – should cooperate absolutely with this police investigation and decide to full transparency surrounding it.

“The SNP continue to be engulfed in murkiness and chaos. Humza Yousaf must now show some leadership and suspend his predecessor from the SNP.

“The SNP set that precedent when politicians such as Michelle Thomson and Natalie McGarry were under investigation and must do so again here.

“This extremely serious matter is continuing to escalate and the result is that the SNP are totally distracted at the worst possible time. This is the time they should be focused on the real priorities facing the people of Scotland, such as the cost-of-living crisis, fixing our NHS and strengthening our economy.”

SNP MSP Ms Thomson was not under investigation by police when she was suspended by the party. Instead, a solicitor whose services she used was under investigation.

Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray MP called on Humza Yousaf to “urgently come clean on what he knows”.

He said: “This is a deeply concerning development and the Police Scotland investigation must be allowed to proceed without interference.

“For too long, a culture of secrecy and cover-up has been allowed to fester at the heart of the SNP.”

He added: “The same culture that leads to police tents in front gardens created the deeply dysfunctional government that is currently failing Scots.

“Humza Yousaf must urgently come clean on what he knows – the people of Scotland deserve answers.”

Just hours earlier than Ms Sturgeon’s arrest, SNP chief Mr Yousaf informed the BBC Ms Sturgeon is “in a great place and doing nicely”.

He stated he welcomed recommendation from “one of the best politicians, the most impressive politicians, Europe has seen over the last couple of decades”.

Commenting on Ms Sturgeon’s arrest, a Police Scotland assertion stated: “A 52-year-old woman has today, Sunday, 11 June, 2023, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.

“The lady is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives.

“A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.”

But a spokesperson for the SNP stated the arrest came about after an interview with the police “by arrangement”.

They stated: “Nicola Sturgeon has today, Sunday 11th June, by arrangement with Police Scotland, attended an interview where she was to be arrested and questioned in relation to Operation Branchform. Nicola has consistently said she would co-operate with the investigation.”

Speculation about Nicola Sturgeon’s arrest had been ramped up following the arrest of Mr Beattie in April, as solely she, Mr Beattie and Mr Murrell had signed off the SNP’s accounts for 2021/2022.

Speaking exterior her Glasgow residence following the arrest of her husband, the previous Party Chief Executive, Ms Sturgeon promised to cooperate with the police inquiry if required.

The former First Minister is the third arrest made by the pressure, following her husband Peter Murrell and social gathering treasurer Colin Beattie.

Mr Murrell and MSP Colin Beattie, who was SNP treasurer on the time, have been each launched with out cost pending additional inquiry.

As nicely because the arrests, searches have been carried out at quite a few properties, together with Mr Murrell and Ms Sturgeon’s residence – the place a police tent was erected within the backyard – and SNP headquarters in Edinburgh.

A luxurious £100,000 motorhome was additionally seized from exterior the house of Mr Murrell’s mom in Dunfermline, Fife.

The investigation – dubbed Operation Branchform – started in 2021.