SNP treasurer Colin Beattie has been arrested in connection with a Police Scotland investigation into the party’s finances, the latest development in saga engulfing the party in power in Scotland.
First minister Humza Yousaf is facing calls to suspend Nicola Sturgeon and those under investigation, after Mr Beattie was taken into custody on Tuesday morning for questioning by detectives.
It follows the arrest of chief executive Peter Murrell, Ms Sturgeon’s husband, in connection with the probe. He was later released without charge pending further inquiries.
The probe into £660,000 raised specifically for Scottish independence campaigning was launched after it was alleged money was diverted from the “ring-fenced” fund – sparking the exit of senior people from the SNP.
Mr Beattie is a long-serving treasurer of the SNP, having held the post from 2004 until 2020, and then again since 2021. The 71-year-old has also been the MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh since the 2011 Holyrood elections.
Mr Yousaf has said he does “not believe” that the SNP is operating in a criminal way after the arrest – saying he was “surprised when one of my colleagues has been arrested”.
Questioned by reporters if the SNP was operating criminally, the first minister told reporters: “No, certainly I don’t believe it is at all, no.”
Mr Yousaf said he wanted to discuss “pertinent issues” about Mr Beattie’s role as the SNP treasurer – and his role on the Scottish parliament’s public audit committee – with him whenever he is released by police.
“I’ll have to speak to Colin Beattie. My understanding is he’s still in the police station being questioned,” he told reporters at lunchtime on Tuesday.
“Clearly when he’s off that, I’ll have a word with Colin – not about the live investigation – but clearly there are pertinent issues around public audit committee and of course his roles as national treasurer.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “A 71-year-old man has today, Tuesday, 18 April 2023, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.”
An SNP spokesperson said: “We have no comment on a live police investigation.”
There were further media reports over the weekend regarding Ms Sturgeon’s role in the SNP’s finances. The Sunday Mail cited leaked emails which appeared to show she had blocked plans to hire a fundraising manager for the party despite concerns about transparency.
Police Scotland detectives are said to have been handed emails showing Ms Sturgeon quashed the idea in June 2021. The Mail also published a video in which Ms Sturgeon told the party’s National Executive Committee that there were no problems with the accounts.
Jackie Baillie, the Scottish Labour deputy leader, called on Mr Yousaf to suspend those under investigation. “For too long, a culture of secrecy and cover-up has been allowed to fester at the heart of the SNP,” she said.
She added: “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?”
Craig Hoy, the chair of the Scottish Conservatives, said the police investigation was “consuming” the SNP and urged the party’s leader to “get a grip of the situation”.
Mr Hoy said: “He must show some leadership and suspend Colin Beattie – along with Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon. Colin Beattie should also stand down from membership of the Public Audit Committee until the conclusion of the investigation.”
He added: “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.”
Ash Regan – who came last in the SNP leadership contest – has said that she has “some sympathy” with those saying the contest should now be re-run given the ongoing turmoil.
Ms Reagan told BBC Radio 4 that she was “quite shocked” by Mr Beattie’s arrest “and I think some action should be taken by Mr Yousaf”.
Asked if Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell should be suspended, she told the BBC: “If it is found that people have been involved in something of this situation, until that can be cleared up … they should be suspended from the party.”
But Ms Reagan later clarified that SNP figures should only be suspended if “significant wrongdoing” was found.
