The launch by Scotland’s new first minister, Humza Yousaf, of his policy programme for the next three years was overshadowed on Tuesday by the arrest of yet another senior party member in a deepening scandal over the Scottish National Party’s finances.
The SNP’s national treasurer, Colin Beattie, who is also an elected member (MSP) of the Scottish parliament, was arrested by detectives hours before Mr Yousaf launched his new policy platform in a statement to MSPs in Edinburgh.
Mr Beattie was last night released without charge “pending further investigation”. His detention follows the arrest earlier this month of Peter Murrell, the former SNP chief executive and husband of the party’s former leader, Nicola Sturgeon. Mr Murrell was subsequently released without charge “pending further investigation”.
Both men were detained as part of a police investigation into the whereabouts of £660,000 that was raised by SNP activists for a referendum but which now cannot be accounted for in the party’s books.
In advance of his planned landmark policy speech in parliament, Mr Yousaf, who is seen as close to Ms Sturgeon and her husband, said he could not comment on a live police investigation, which could trigger contempt proceedings under Scottish laws.
He said he would “consider” whether to remove Mr Beattie from his position on Scotland’s public audit commission and would meet him to discuss this. Mr Yousaf, who was elected as leader to replace Ms Sturgeon last month on a promise to provide “continuity”, conceded that “change is needed in how the party operates”. He denied it is being run in a “criminal manner”.
The ramifications of the arrest dominated proceedings in Scotland’s devolved parliament on Tuesday afternoon, following a speech by Mr Yousaf in which he promised to “reset” his party’s relationship with the business community.
He did not give a substantive reply to a question from Meghan Gallacher, the deputy leader of the Scottish conservatives, when she asked if Mr Murrell was still owed cash by the SNP, a reference to a £107,000 loan that he gave the party and which emerged after the police investigation was launched.
Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, accused the SNP of being a party “mired in scandal and division, talking to themselves about themselves”. Mr Yousaf defended the party’s record in government.
