Monday, May 6

First minister Humza Yousaf ‘did not learn about SNP motorhome till he turned get together chief’

First minister Humza Yousaf has mentioned he was unaware the SNP owned a £100,000 motorhome till he turned the get together chief in latest weeks. 

The state-of-the-art automobile was seized final week by detectives outdoors the house of an aged relative of the get together’s former chief government, Peter Murrell, whereas the 58-year-old was in police custody dealing with questions over the SNP’s funds and funding.

Mr Murrell was launched with out cost pending additional investigations after an 11-hour detention.

Mr Yousaf mentioned: “Of course I have been briefed. The police, of course, give us a warrant of the items they are looking to take in their possession.”

Probed on when he turned conscious of the motorhome being an SNP asset, the primary minister mentioned: “Shorty after I became the leader of the party.”

As questions proceed to mount over the get together’s funds, there’s a race in opposition to the clock to seek out alternative auditors for the SNP’s monetary accounts after its earlier agency, Johnston Carmichael, stop final September.

The info solely turned public in latest days.

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Police Scotland officers at Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell’s dwelling in Glasgow
Officers from Police Scotland outside the headquarters of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in Edinburgh following the arrest of former chief executive Peter Murrell. Police Scotland are conducting searches at a number of properties in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the party. Picture date: Wednesday April 5, 2023.
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Officers additionally raided the SNP’s headquarters in Edinburgh

Political events are legally obliged to submit independently audited accounts to the Electoral Commission by July.

Mr Yousaf mentioned: “We are going to try to [meet the deadline] but it’s going to be difficult. It is going to be a challenge, but we are going to do our best to meet that deadline.”

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Nicola Sturgeon pictured with her husband Peter Murrell, who is SNP chief executive
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Nicola Sturgeon with husband Peter Murrell

Asked whether or not it was unsuitable of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon to not disclose to SNP management candidates the dearth of auditors, Mr Yousaf responded: “Frankly it would have been helpful to know beforehand.

“I feel folks have an inexpensive query to ask the get together round transparency. I’ve dedicated to a overview of governance with exterior enter.”

The SNP leader also revealed he did not know the full costs of mounting a legal challenge against the UK government on controversial gender reforms.

People take part in a demonstration for trans rights outside the UK Government Office at Queen Elizabeth House in Edinburgh. The UK Government made the decision on Monday to block the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, passed by the Scottish Government in December, to prevent it obtaining Royal Assent and becoming law. Picture date: Thursday January 19, 2023.
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An indication for trans rights outdoors the UK authorities workplace in Edinburgh

On Wednesday, his administration introduced it was triggering a court docket battle after Downing Street blocked Holyrood’s laws, which makes it simpler for youngsters as younger as 16 to legally change their gender.

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The Scottish and UK governments are battling over a gender reform invoice

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claims the brand new Scottish legal guidelines infringe on UK-wide equality legal guidelines and his Scottish Secretary, Alister Jack, has due to this fact blocked the reforms from gaining Royal Assent.

Speaking for the primary time because the authorized standoff started, Mr Yousaf mentioned: “We don’t know the full costs of the court case.”

Content Source: information.sky.com