SNP – latest news: Humza Yousaf insists party not going bankrupt as Westminster makes threat

SNP leader under pressure over party finances after Nicola Sturgeon’s husband’s arrest, as UK government sets red line on audit

‘I’m surprised when one of my colleagues is arrested’, says SNP leader

Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf insisted the SNP was not facing bankruptcy amid a financial scandal, as the UK government issued a threat to cut off the party’s funding if it fails to find new auditors within weeks.

Mr Yousaf addressed questions over the sustainability of SNP finances, telling reporters: “We are definitely not facing bankruptcy, I’m pleased to say we are on a steady footing,” though he admitted the party stilled owed money to ex-chief executive Peter Murrell, Nicola Sturgeon’s husband.

The new party leader was yesterday thrust into the role of overseeing the SNP’s accounts, as treasurerColin Beattie quit after police detained him for questioning in an investigation into suspected fraud over £660,000 of SNP donations earmarked for independence campaigning.

In Westminster, Commons leader Penny Mordaunt said if the SNP does not file audited accounts by 31 May their “short money”, payments to opposition parties for parliamentary work, will be cut off.

SNP leader Humza Yousaf said the party was “still in conversations” with prospective new auditors after the previous firm quit last year.

Key Points

• SNP ‘definitely not facing bankruptcy’, says Yousaf
• Westminster could cut off SNP payments
• Sturgeon ‘likely next’ on police list

[21 April 2023 03:00 · Emily Atkinson]

Labour suggests MSPs under police investigation should be suspended

Labour has suggested members of the Scottish Parliament who are under police investigation should be suspended amid inquiries into SNP finances.

Shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire referenced the police investigation into the SNP’s finances in the Commons, saying First Minister Humza Yousaf should suspend MSPs who are the subject of police inquiries.

She also raised questions about the party’s auditors.

More on this here:

[21 April 2023 04:30 · Emily Atkinson]

Labour MP apologises after calling Humza Yousaf ‘Mohammed Yousaf’ on live TV

A senior Labour MP has apologised after calling Scotland’s first minister Humza Yousaf “Mohammed” during a live TV interview.

Shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland Peter Kyle made the mistake during an appearance on Sky News today, while championing Scottish Labour as a “credible alternative” to the Scottish National Party, led by Mr Yousaf.

The newly-minted first minister succeeded Nicola Sturgeon following her sudden resignation in March. Mr Yousaf took the helm just days before Ms Sturgeon’s husband, Peter Murrell, was arrested in connection with the police probe into the SNP’s finances.

Click here to read the story in full:

[21 April 2023 06:00 · Emily Atkinson]

Sean O’Grady: Nicola Sturgeon’s fall from grace is astonishing – and she only has herself to blame

You have to wonder how Sturgeon, a trained solicitor and apparently canny politician ended up in this parodic situation, writes Sean O’Grady. Rarely can a politician and indeed an entire political party have fallen from grace quite so rapidly.

[21 April 2023 07:00 · Emily Atkinson]

Tom Peck: Humza Yousaf should declare independence from the SNP

For me, a political story has achieved that loathsome term “cut-through” when it appears in my WhatsApp messages from people who aren’t obsessively interested in politics. So, since the arrest of SNP treasurer Colin Beattie on Tuesday morning, based purely on the number of times I have been asked “What’s Phil Mitchell done now?” – the SNP may wish to start panicking.

Read Tom Peck’s latest political sketch here: