Two senior Scottish politicians have said Nicola Sturgeon should be suspended from the SNP after her “shocking” arrest and release without charge over the weekend.

Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, was asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whether First Minister Huma Yousaf needed to suspend Ms Sturgeon from the SNP. She responded: “I’ve no doubt in my mind, he absolutely needs to do that.”

Former leadership candidate Ash Regan also separately said Ms Sturgeon should consider resigning her SNP membership until after the conclusion of the police probe that resulted in her arrest.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaking during the press conference at Bute House as she resigned as First Minister. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland on Monday, Ms Regan said: “The Government needs to be completely focused on delivering public services and delivering for the people of Scotland in these difficult times.”

She said the probe into the party’s finances could be a “distraction”, adding: “I think that Nicola should perhaps consider voluntarily resigning her SNP membership until this can be cleared up.”

Resigning would “reaffirm [Ms Sturgeon’s] commitment to the principles of the party”, she added.

Asked if Ms Sturgeon should be suspended from the party, Ms Regan said Mr Yousaf may already be considering such a move, adding: “Accountability in these type of situations is really important.”

Ms Baillie said Ms Sturgeon’s arrest was a “shocking state of affairs although not surprising, because I think we all anticipated that at some point Nicola Sturgeon would be arrested for questioning about the SNP finances because she is, of course, the third signatory on the accounts”.

Ms Bailie added: “The question in my mind is, given all this chaos, given the kind of secrecy and cover-up that has been the hallmark of how the SNP operate, is whether Humza Yousaf, the current First Minister, is indeed strong enough to suspend her and protect the party.

“I’ve no doubt in my mind, he absolutely needs to do that.”

Asked what the consequences have been for Scottish politics, Ms Baillie said: “The impact has been profound, irrespective of what the outcome is.

“The SNP appeal to the people of Scotland based on them projecting an image of being kind of morally superior to the ‘corrupt politics’, if you like, of the rest of the UK – now that clearly doesn’t work for them anymore.”

There were no signs of activity at Nicola Sturgeon’s home on Monday morning.

There appeared to be nobody at the property in Glasgow while a few journalists and photographers were gathered outside.

Nicola Sturgeon arrest: Ash Regan and Jackie Baillie say former first minister should either resign or be suspended from SNP by Humza Yousaf