Nicola Sturgeon arrest: Humza Yousaf says he will not suspend former First Minister from SNP

The First Minister confirmed his position following the arrest of his predecessor.

Humza Yousaf has declared he will not suspend Nicola Sturgeon from the SNP in the wake of her arrest as the First Minister came under renewed pressure, including from figures within his own party, to take action against his predecessor.

The SNP leader said he saw “no reason” to suspend Ms Sturgeon and that he would not do so, sparking anger from internal critics and the opposition, who branded him “weak” and unable to stand up to his former boss.

Ms Sturgeon was arrested on Sunday in connection with a police investigation into the party’s finances before later being released without charge.

Humza Yousaf has said he will not suspend Nicola Sturgeon from the SNP.

It is the latest week of turmoil for the SNP, which has seen its three most senior office-bearers during the Sturgeon era – the chief executive, treasurer and party leader – arrested by police in connection with the probe into the alleged misuse of £600,000 it crowdfunded for an independence campaign.

The development will also pile the pressure on Mr Yousaf, badged the ‘continuity Sturgeon’ candidate during the SNP leadership election, as allies of former leadership challengers began to round on the leadership on Monday.

Michelle Thomson, who resigned the whip in 2015 amid wider allegations of financial impropriety, called on the former first minister to take the same step because “her [Sturgeon’s] values should be consistent”.

The MSP, who was a key backer of Mr Yousaf’s closest challenger Kate Forbes during the leadership contest, pointed at the fact she had had to do so when she was an MP despite not being “personally under investigation” and “certainly not arrested”.

Ms Thomson stressed she was a “strong believer in natural justice”, including the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in court.

But speaking about Ms Sturgeon, she said: “The processes set up by the SNP under her leadership were clear. Some eight years ago, when an MP, I was required to resign the SNP whip, although I was never personally under investigation and was certainly not arrested.

“After careful consideration, I feel the right thing for the former first minister to do is to resign the SNP whip. This is not because she doesn’t deserve to be treated as innocent until proven guilty – she does – but because her values should be consistent.”

Former leadership hopeful Ash Regan, who resigned from Ms Sturgeon’s Government over gender reforms and was a fierce critic of the former leader, also called on Mr Yousaf to remove Ms Sturgeon's membership if she did not resign her membership.

Ms Regan told the BBC: “I think that Nicola should perhaps consider voluntarily resigning her SNP membership until this can be cleared up. Accountability in these type of situations is really important. I think he [Mr Yousaf] should consider [suspending her]. I think that the leadership and Humza need to really think about taking decisive action at the moment.”

Allies of the First Minister moved to rally around both Mr Yousaf and his predecessor on social media, after Ms Sturgeon posted a statement stating she was “innocent of any wrongdoing”.

Dundee West MP Chris Law pointed at the fact he was not suspended when he was arrested in 2016 in relation to alleged financial irregularities with his pro-independence tour in a repainted fire engine.

He said: “I was arrested in 2016 and released without charge regarding Spirit of independence campaign. I had the support of the FM Nicola Sturgeon and I was not suspended from the party.

"This should be the right course for anyone that is in that position.”

Speaking to the BBC, the First Minister confirmed he would not suspend Ms Sturgeon, pointing at the approach he took with the party’s then-treasurer and MSP, Colin Beattie, and former chief executive and Ms Sturgeon’s husband, Peter Murrell, who were also allowed to stay in the party.

Admitting the arrest of Ms Sturgeon was “quite painful personally”, he said: “I see no reason to suspend their membership. I will do what I believe is right to the values of natural justice. I'll not suspend Nicola's membership. I'll treat her in the same way I've treated, for example, Colin Beattie.

"Those that have been released without charge, I see no reason to suspend their membership."

Ms Sturgeon was arrested on Sunday and questioned for seven hours, before being released without charge, pending further investigation.

Pressed on the precedent set by Ms Sturgeon by suspending Ms Thomson and others, Mr Yousaf said he was following the precedent he personally had set with Mr Beattie and Mr Murrell.

He said: “I can only account for decisions that are made by me, I have been leader now for 11 weeks. I have shown a consistency in terms of the approach. Others have been released without charge and I propose to treat Nicola Sturgeon exactly the same.

"I can’t account for decisions that were made before I was leader of the SNP."

Opposition parties were quick to call Mr Yousaf weak. Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said the party should instead follow the precedent set with other MSPs such as Ms Thomson.

Mr Ross said: “A weak leader unable to stand up to his predecessor. The SNP should follow their own precedent and suspend Nicola Sturgeon while she is being investigated by the police.”

The party’s chairman, Craig Hoy, said the lack of action was a demonstration of Mr Yousaf’s weakness in front of someone “to whom he owes his job”.

He said: “Several senior SNP figures have already said it’s wrong for Nicola Sturgeon to receive favourable treatment by the party. But the reason Humza Yousaf will not follow the precedent – which was set by his predecessor when she was party leader – is because he’s hopelessly compromised by the fact that he only won the leadership election thanks to the backing of Nicola Sturgeon and her inner circle.”

Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader, said the SNP was a party “mired in scandal”. He said: “This is a party mired in scandal, mired in division and trying to get by day by day.

"Instead we are seeing an incompetent and dysfunctional SNP Government at a time when we need true leadership. People across this country are being failed.

"If you look at previous incidents in the SNP, normally people in that position have been suspended and the question for Humza Yousaf is whether he's strong enough or too weak to show leadership."

Police officers have said they will submit a report to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), which will ultimately make the decision on whether to charge any suspects, gather more evidence or drop the investigation.

In July, the probe will have been running for exactly two years since an investigation was launched following complaints in 2021.

A spokesperson for the Crown Office said: "Senior professional prosecutors from COPFS and an advocate depute are working with police on this ongoing investigation.

“It is standard practice that any case regarding politicians is dealt with by prosecutors without the involvement of the law officers. All Scotland’s prosecutors act independently of political interference."