A FORMER SNP minister has called on the party to clarify its suspension policy in the wake of Nicola Sturgeon’s arrest.
Ivan McKee, who served as business minister under the former SNP leader, said Humza Yousaf must explicitly set out the party’s policy for suspending members as accusations of double standards mount.
Falkirk East MSP Michelle Thomson, who was forced to withdraw from the SNP whip while an MP, has called on Sturgeon to quit the party in light of her arrest.
Thomson was ejected from the party when it emerged the police were investigating property deals linked to her company. She said at the time the police had not been in contact with her and The Herald reported police sources as saying Thomson was not the subject of their investigation.
Thomson on Monday said Sturgeon should resign to be “consistent” with how she is said to have treated others generating negative publicity for the party.
McKee, who backed Kate Forbes in this year’s SNP leadership race, told The Herald this week party high command must clear up what its policy is on suspensions.
McKee said: “I am not calling for Humza to suspend Nicola as it is a matter of natural justice, the principle of people are innocent until proven guilty.
“Whatever Nicola does is up to her and I am sure she will think about what is in the best interests of the party. But I am calling for Humza to clarify what the process is and how best these cases are dealt with in general.
“He and Mike Russell have said the process is that nobody has been charged so nobody will be suspended but if that is the process that [in general] nobody is suspended until they are charged they need to be clear about that."
Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil and SNP leadership contender Ash Regan have also called on Sturgeon to quit the party.
Sturgeon was arrested on Sunday and later released without charge as part of Police Scotland’s ongoing investigation into the SNP’s finances.
Police are working with Crown prosecutors to probe allegations the SNP misspent around £600,000 in donations earmarked for an independence campaign.
Her arrest came after that of her husband Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the party, and of Colin Beattie, who was the SNP’s treasurer until April.
The SNP were approached for comment.
