Nicola Sturgeon: Former first minister won’t be suspended by SNP amid police probe

The SNP has confirmed former chief Nicola Sturgeon won’t be suspended amid a police probe into the get together’s funding and funds.

The former first minister was arrested on Sunday morning and questioned for round seven hours earlier than being launched with out cost pending additional investigation.

On Monday, the get together confirmed to Sky News it won’t be eradicating Ms Sturgeon, who continues to be an MSP, from the get together.

Responding to calls to droop the 52-year-old, First Minister Humza Yousaf informed BBC Scotland: “I’ll not suspend Nicola’s membership. I’ll treat her in the same way I’ve treated, for example, Colin Beattie.

“Those which have been launched with out cost, I see no purpose to droop their membership.”

Following her launch from custody, Ms Sturgeon stated she would “by no means do something to hurt both the SNP or the nation” and described the scenario as a “shock and deeply distressing”.

She added: “Obviously, given the nature of this process, I cannot go into detail. However, I do wish to say this, and to do so in the strongest possible terms.

“Innocence isn’t just a presumption I’m entitled to in regulation. I do know past doubt that I’m the truth is harmless of any wrongdoing.”

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

Police Scotland launched Operation Branchform into the SNP’s funding and funds again in 2021.

The long-running inquiry is linked to the spending of round £600,000 raised by supporters to be earmarked for Scottish independence campaigning.

It is known there have been complaints the ringfenced money has been used improperly by being spent elsewhere.

Ms Sturgeon, the MSP for Glasgow Southside, is the third high-profile SNP politician to be arrested in reference to the probe.

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

Earlier on Monday, former SNP management candidate Ash Regan stated Ms Sturgeon ought to contemplate resigning her SNP membership.

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

SNP MSP Michelle Thomson additionally urged Ms Sturgeon ought to resign the get together whip – saying she had needed to do it when she was an MP regardless of not being “personally under investigation” and “certainly not arrested”.

Ms Thomson pressured she was a “strong believer in natural justice”, together with the presumption of innocence till confirmed responsible in courtroom.

Following the announcement that Ms Sturgeon wouldn’t be suspended, Craig Hoy MSP, Scottish Conservatives chairman, stated: “This is the action of a weak leader unable to stand up to the predecessor to whom he owes his job.

“Humza Yousaf’s declare that he has ‘no purpose’ to droop Nicola Sturgeon from the SNP is fooling nobody. He is aware of, as everybody else does, that there is a clear precedent in his get together for MPs and MSPs underneath investigation to be suspended till the conclusion of their case.

“And, in this instance, the police probe into the SNP’s murky finances is very much ongoing.

“Several senior SNP figures have already stated it is mistaken for Nicola Sturgeon to obtain beneficial therapy by the get together.

“But the reason Humza Yousaf will not follow the precedent – which was set by his predecessor when she was party leader – is because he’s hopelessly compromised by the fact that he only won the leadership election thanks to the backing of Nicola Sturgeon and her inner circle.”