SNP not 'in cahoots' with police, Humza Yousaf insists

Humza Yusuf told reporters: “The timing of any investigation is entirely up to the Scottish Police, it is not determined by anyone else' Photo: Robert Perry/PA

Scottish First Minister denies SNP is in 'colluding' with police as he tried to distance himself from Nicola Sturgeon's husband.

Humza Yousaf dismissed over allegations that the Scottish police postponed the raid on the house Ms. Sturgeon shares with Peter Murrell until after the race for party leadership, calling the claim a «conspiracy theory.» for the Nationalist riots solely on Mr. Murrell, who was the chief executive of the SNP for more than two decades.

Mr. Murrell was released without charge after 11 hours of interrogation following his arrest on Wednesday morning.

Questions were raised over the timing of the massive police operation following weeks of rumors that Mr. Murrell's arrest was imminent after a lengthy investigation party finance. .

The search of their home in Glasgow and SNP headquarters in Edinburgh was carried out just nine days after the shortened six-week SNP leadership contest.

However, at a press conference at Bute House, Mr. Yusaf turned down the offer. that the police may have given in to pressure from SNP ministers to delay action so as not to influence the election and raid the home of the incumbent first minister.

“It sounds like a conspiracy theory to me that we were in cahoots with the Scottish police over time, " said Mr. Yousaf.

“The timing of any investigation is solely the responsibility of the Scottish Police, it is not determined by anyone else.”

Humza Yousaf to Peter Murrell

Just weeks earlier, Mr. Yousaf, the self-proclaimed «successor candidate» in the race to succeed Ms. Sturgeon, had lavished praise on Mr. Murrell and said he hoped he would remain chief executive. Yousaf won by a narrow margin after misleading the public by claiming wildly inflated membership numbers.

On Thursday, the new First Minister addressed Mr. Murrell, suggesting that he presided over a state of disintegration of the party in which transparency and governance were poor.

Mr. finance ever,” and called the membership dispute, for which Mr. Murrell claimed the blame, a “fiasco.”

He added that he did not hold other party officials responsible for potential violations.

р><р>“Unless you can tell me otherwise, no one else was suspected of being guilty,” Mr. Yousaf said when asked if any other senior officers who were questioned by police should be suspended.

“The only person I understand that was interrogated with caution is Peter himself.

“Honestly, a test of management, a test of how we do everything as transparently as possible, clearly needed.

«I think the management of financial accountability was not as good as it should have been, and it's quite obvious, to be honest.»

Mr. Yusuf also said he would be willing to reconsider should he cover Mr. Murrell's legal costs, saying he would «think» about whether it was appropriate to do so.

Party sources later said, that they did not pay for the legal representation of the former chief executive.

'Scotland deserves more than the scandalous SNP'

Mr Yousaf's attempt to distance himself from Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell, whom he says he keeps respect.

During the leadership contest, he repeatedly expressed admiration for the couple, going as far as to claim that he wept when Ms. Sturgeon announced her departure.

He also said that anyone who didn't want to Mr Murrell was 'on his side', would have been 'stupid'.

Donald Cameron, Scottish Conservative MP, said: 'This is an extraordinary recognition from the First Minister just weeks after he was happy to be named a succession candidate and joked that he would have Nicola Sturgeon on speed dial.»

«Humza Yusuf can't distance himself from the glowing remarks he made about Peter Murrell just a few weeks ago.

«These belated calls for transparency and how the SNP should be managed just won't work.

Jackie Bailey, Scottish Labor deputy leader, said: » After being silent for months as members of the entire political spectrum sounded the alarm about culture in the SNP, Humza Yousaf finally admitted that there are serious issues that need to be addressed.

“It is clear to everyone that Humza Yousaf was happy to turn a blind eye to the SNP fiasco for as long as he could.

“You just can't trust Humza Yousaf to fight the cover-up culture that underpins the SNP. .

«Scotland deserves more than its scandal-ridden SNP and its out-of-touch and unreality leader.»