OPPOSITION parties have demanded the SNP’s treasurer Colin Beattie – along with its former leader Nicola Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell – be suspended from the party after he was arrested in connection with a probe into their finances.
Beattie, 71, was arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the SNP’s funding and finances on Tuesday morning, police said in a statement.
It has lead to calls from the party’s opponents for him to be booted from the SNP.
The Scottish Conservatives pointed out that Michelle Thomson and Natalie McGarry had been suspended while under investigation by police – claiming the SNP had set a “precedent”.
Thomson was never arrested in connection with a probe into “alleged irregularities” in property deals she had made and she was later readmitted to the party.
Beattie is a member of Holyrood’s Public Audit Committee – which scrutinises whether the taxpayer is getting value for money through government spending – and regained his position as SNP treasurer when Dunfermline MP Douglas Chapman quit the role claiming he had not been given adequate detail to “carry out the fiduciary duties” required.
Scottish Tory chair Craig Hoy said: “The police investigation into the SNP’s murky finances is consuming the party – and Humza Yousaf has to get a grip of the situation, rather than stand by wringing his hands.
“He must show some leadership and suspend Colin Beattie – along with Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon.
“That is the precedent the party set when politicians such as of Michelle Thomson and Natalie McGarry were under investigation – and it must be followed here, for the benefit of everyone.
“Colin Beattie should also stand down from membership of the Public Audit Committee until the conclusion of the investigation.
“This extremely serious matter is escalating by the day and everyone in the SNP has a duty to be as transparent as possible about what they knew and when.”
Jackie Baillie (above), Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, also called for the SNP to suspend Beattie’s membership.
She said: “This is yet another 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.
“And while the investigation spreads, the SNP is still refusing to take the basic step of suspending MSPs who are the subject of police inquiries.
“Humza Yousaf’s inaction raises questions – is his priority the cover up to protect the SNP or the people of Scotland?”
Alex Cole-Hamilton, the leader of the Scottish LibDems, said the arrest had "torpedoed" a statement from the First Minister scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in which he will set out his priorities in government.
He said: "Today, Humza Yousaf was supposed to set out his government's priorities, but the complete mess within his party has torpedoed that relaunch.
“This is a government in total paralysis, just at a time when people across the country are struggling to pay the bills, waiting an age for NHS treatment, being left without lifeline ferries and seeing sewage pour into their rivers.
"Their priorities are not the priorities of this dysfunctional SNP government.
“Change is coming and Scottish LibDems will be part of what’s next.”
Yousaf on Monday repeatedly insisted there was no reason for Nicola Sturgeon to be suspended from the party because of the arrest of her husband Peter Murrell.
Murrell, the former chief executive of the SNP, was released without charge after he was questioned under caution by police earlier this month.
In a statement on Tuesday morning, Police Scotland said: “A 71-year-old man has today, Tuesday, April 18, 2023, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.
“The man is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives. A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
“The matter is active for the purposes of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and the public are therefore advised to exercise caution if discussing it on social media.
“As the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further.”
The SNP were approached for comment.
