Ex-SNP treasurer Colin Beattie ‘unaware’ get together had purchased £100,000 motorhome

Former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie has mentioned he had no data of the get together’s buy of a luxurious motorhome seized by police from the house of Nicola Sturgeon’s mother-in-law.

The Niesmann+Bischoff campervan, which might promote for greater than £100,000, was faraway from the Dunfermline dwelling of Peter Murrell’s mom after the previous SNP chief govt was arrested earlier this month as a part of an inquiry into the funding and funds of the get together.

Mr Murrell was later launched with out cost “pending further investigation”.

Mr Beattie, who stop as treasurer final week after being arrested and launched with out cost in reference to the probe, made the admission to journalists at Holyrood on Tuesday.

Asked if he knew in regards to the car buy, Mr Beattie mentioned: “No, I didn’t know about it.”

First minister Humza Yousaf just lately instructed Sky News the state-of-the-art car was an SNP asset and was a part of the warrant record of things seized by police.

The long-running probe 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.

Mr Murrell and Ms Sturgeon’s Glasgow dwelling has been searched as a part of the investigation. Officers had been additionally seen eradicating containers from SNP headquarters in Edinburgh.

The get together mentioned it has been “cooperating fully” with the investigation and would “continue to do so”.

Read extra:
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While chatting with the media, Mr Beattie denied the SNP is at risk of going bust.

“The SNP is in the black,” he mentioned.

However, he did admit: “We’re a going concern, definitely.”

The get together’s auditors stop final yr and have but to get replaced, with the SNP Westminster group vulnerable to lacking out on £1.2m from Westminster authorities, often known as Short cash, if it fails to submit audited accounts by 31 May.

MP Stuart McDonald grew to become the brand new SNP treasurer on Saturday.

Asked why the get together was having such bother appointing new auditors, Mr Beattie mentioned: “Partly, that’s a market situation.”

He made no remark when requested if he needs to be suspended from the SNP following his arrest, however mentioned he has “no plans at the moment” to resign from Holyrood’s Economy and Fair Work Committee, including that he believes he’s a “fit and proper person” to serve on it.

The MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh was additionally requested if his arrest was the worst factor which has ever occurred to him.

He replied: “No, I was in Beirut actually when I was under artillery fire.

“That was worse.”