BMScotland: Former SNP Executive Peter Murrell Arrested - Is this why Nicola Sturgeon resigned ?

Former SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell Was Arrested This Week - Is this why Nicola Sturgeon resigned as leader of the SNP?

Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell (aka Nicola Sturgeon's husband) arrested, questioned under caution for several hours before being released without charges (but could be brought back in for questioning).

The Police Scotland investigation into SNP finances is continuing and although Nicola Sturgeon has denied it, there are strong rumours that she knew that her husband could be arrested at some point and so they both resigned their leadership positions before it happened.

Earlier this week the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh was searched by Police Scotland detectives as part of an on-going investigation into £600,000 of donations 'missing' from SNP funds. This investigation has been running for almost two years, so the situation did not come as a surprise to Nicola Sturgeon, Peter Murrell or the SNP.

SNP offices and various SNP officials home addresses across Glasgow were subject to police searches this week including the private home of Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon in Glasgow. News media coverage showed a number of police vehicles outside their house, tents and police tape everywhere, and even footage of the Police Scotland officers searching the garden. (Looked more like a murder enquiry than just a financial investigation!!!)

And there is increasing criticism inside the SNP about lack of transparency and outright secrecy during Nicola Sturgeon's term of leadership of the Scottish National Party. Add to that the announcement this week that the accountancy firm that usually audits the SNP accounts has resigned from its contracts with the SNP. The firm of Johnston Carmichael withdrew it services to the SNP in March, after providing accounts services to the SNP for many years. Which begs the question, 'What did they know'?

On top of all the financial woes, the SNP has other problems at its door. The by election in Rutherglen and Hamilton West, which was forced on the SNP by the recall of the sitting MP Margaret Ferrier. She was one of the SNP members of parliament at Westminster, but was prosecuted for breaches of the Scottish government and the Westminster government's draconian Covid rules. Margaret Ferrier displayed the classic arrogance of a democratically elected MP by ignoring the travel rules imposed on the British public, in a classic case of "Rules for Thee but not for Me!"

Never missing an opportunity to throw mud at its political opponents, the Labour Party is going all out in its bid to capture the Rutherglen and Hamilton West seat from the SNP, an official Labour Party election leaflet calls Margaret Ferrier, "a criminal SNP MP".

Meanwhile back at Bute House, the new tenant in residence is Humza Yousaf.

Humza Yousaf says that he is the 'continuity' voice of the SNP and will continue where Nicola Sturgeon left off. Whatever that means in light of the Police Scotland investigations. There are rumours that Humza Yousaf is quietly shifting his position and is trying to put some distance between the way Sturgeon operated and how he hopes to run the SNP.

Meanwhile the new leader of the SNP settles into office.

A nice friendly family shot: Note the traditional dress outfit of the First Minister - not a bit of tartan anywhere - but this is traditional dress for a Kashmiri Pakistani - not Scotland.