Yousaf: I See No Reason to Suspend Sturgeon From SNP

Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf during a visit to the National Treatment Centre—Highland in Inverness, Scotland, on June 12, 2023. Paul Campbell/PA Media

Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf has said he will not suspend his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon from the Scottish National Party (SNP).

Sturgeon was arrested on Sunday as part of a police investigation into the SNP finances, but was released without charge, pending further investigation.

The former first minister is the third high-profile SNP figure arrested during the investigation, after her husband Peter Murrell and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie.

Nicola Sturgeon, then SNP leader and Scottish first minister, and husband Peter Murrell pose after casting their votes in the 2019 General Election at Broomhouse Park Community Hall, Glasgow, Scotland, on Dec. 12, 2019. Andrew Milligan/PA Media

Responding to calls for Sturgeon to be expelled from the party, Yousaf said on Monday that he sees “no reason” to suspend her membership.

“I will do what I believe is right to the values of natural justice,” he told the BBC.

“Nicola Sturgeon, like Colin Beattie, like Peter Murrell, was released without charge. Therefore, I see no reason for their membership to be suspended.”

‘Personally Quite Painful’

Speaking to Moray Firth Radio, Yousaf said the arrest was “personally quite painful” to him.

“I’ve spoken about my longstanding friendship with Nicola Sturgeon over many years and I know that it’s been a difficult day for her and a difficult day for our party and for those that know Nicola Sturgeon, as I have done for well over 15 years,” he added.

“What I will say is that I’ve got to separate that out from the role as first minister, and that role as first minister makes it incumbent on me to make sure I don’t intervene or comment on a live police investigation.”

Yousaf said, however, he has not spoken to Sturgeon and that they do not discuss the police investigation when they do speak.

‘Innocent’

Following her arrest and subsequent release, Sturgeon issued a statement on Twitter, saying she’s “innocent of any wrongdoing.”

“To find myself in the situation I did today when I am certain I have committed no offence is both a shock and deeply distressing,” the former first minister said.

She also said she intended to return to Parliament soon after taking “a day or two” off.

The police investigation, dubbed Operation Branchform, began in July 2021 following allegations that some £600,000 the party raised through crowdfunding for the Scottish independence campaign was diverted elsewhere.

Sturgeon previously denied the allegations, saying, “Every penny we raise to support the campaign for independence will be spent on the campaign for independence.”

Calls for Suspension

Following the arrest, Yousaf has faced calls for him to suspend Sturgeon.

Craig Hoy, chairman of the Scottish Conservatives, said SNP members “continue to be engulfed in murkiness and chaos.”

“Humza Yousaf must now show some leadership and suspend his predecessor,” the statement reads.

Hoy went on to say the SNP is “totally distracted at the worst possible time” when focus is needed for “the cost-of-living crisis, fixing our NHS, and strengthening our economy.”

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said on Monday that whether Sturgeon should be suspended is a matter for the SNP, but “the question is for Humza Yousaf, is he strong enough to take action? Or is he too weak to take action?

“That’s a decision for them, what I’m more interested in is the fact that we now have an incompetent and dysfunctional SNP government, a government now famed for secrecy, for cover-up and economic instability and incompetence.”

Pressure has also come from within the SNP ranks for Sturgeon to resign the whip.

Former leadership candidate Ash Regan said, “I think that Nicola should perhaps consider voluntarily resigning her SNP membership until this can be cleared up.”

Lily Zhou and PA Media contributed to this report.