An emotional Nicola Sturgeon has described the police investigation into SNP finances as “traumatic” and said she could not have anticipated the drama of her husband’s arrest in her “worst nightmares”.
The former first minister spoke to reporters at the Scottish Parliament for the first time since former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell was questioned on 5 April.
“I understand the view that some people might have, that I knew this was all about to unfold and that’s why I walked away,” she said. “Nothing could be further from the truth. I could not have anticipated in my worst nightmares what would have unfolded over the past few weeks.”
She added: “Clearly the events of the last few weeks have been difficult and – I use this word advisedly and deliberately – in some respects very traumatic. But I accept that is the nature of the process that is under way right now.”
Ms Sturgeon’s intervention came as the party’s former treasurer Colin Beattie – also arrested and released in the same police probe – said he had not known the party had bought a £100,000 motorhome, despite reports it was planned to be used for party campaigning.
But in a statement later in the day, Mr Beattie – who resigned as treasurer after being released without charge pending further investigation – said: “This afternoon I was asked if I knew about the motorhome purchase to which I answered no.
“Given some of the coverage of this answer, I believe it is important to clarify that I was unaware of the transaction at the time of purchase. I became aware of the transaction via the 2021 annual accounts.”
As part of their investigation, Police Scotland are thought to have seized a Niesmann + Bischoff campervan bought by the party but apparently never used.
Scottish Conservative chair Craig Hoy said: “If this farce wasn’t so serious it would be comical. It’s little wonder the public have lost all faith in the scandal-ridden SNP when leading figures like Colin Beattie can’t even get their stories straight.”
The senior Tory had earlier attacked the “murkiness” around SNP finances after Mr Beattie’s initial remarks, saying: “How on earth could someone who was treasurer, when the accounts featuring this six-figure purchase were signed off, now claim he was never aware of it?”
Mr Beattie also denied that the SNP is in financial difficulty, insisting: “The SNP is in the black.”
Later on Tuesday, the SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn was asked about the motorhome as he spoke at an Institute for Government event in London. He said he became aware of the purchase “when it was printed on the front of a newspaper”.
Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s first minister, has said he didn’t know the SNP had bought the vehicle until after he became the party leader.
Ms Sturgeon said it was “frustrating” not being able to give her side of the SNP finance story, and said she had not been questioned by police and never had a “burner phone”, following reports that police detectives were searching for sim cards used in disposable mobiles.
Mr Beattie said the SNP’s difficulty in finding auditors to look over its accounts ahead of a May deadline is due to the “market situation”.
He made no comment when asked if he should be suspended from the SNP but said he has “no plans at the moment” to resign from Holyrood’s economy and fair work committee, adding that he believes he is a “fit and proper person” to serve on it.
The MSP was also asked if his arrest was the worst thing that has ever happened to him. He replied: “No, I was in Beirut actually when I was under artillery fire – that was worse.”
The SNP’s Westminster group could miss out on £1.2m as part of funding given to opposition parties if it fails to file audited accounts by the end of May.
