Nicola Sturgeon has announced that she will stay away from Holyrood this week. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA
Nicola Sturgeon's It is alleged that «ardent loyalists» in the SNP are beginning to turn against her because of her «unforgivable» secrecy about the party's financial crisis, as she avoided Holyrood on Monday.< /p>
Party insiders said its members were furious that the former first minister could «mislead them» after a leaked video showed her trying to stop an audit of the SNP's finances at a meeting of its ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) in March 2021.
They said even some of her most dedicated supporters are now wondering «what's going on» amid growing rumors that she may be leaving her seat at Holyrood following the arrest of her husband Peter Murrell, Party' ex-CEO.
Ms Sturgeon has announced she will stay away from Holyrood this week, but a senior MP told The Telegraph that the «radioactive political cloud» looming over Humza Yusuf, her successor, could remain for months.
They claimed that the only way to dispel it was to put all the cards on the table of Miss Sturgeon and her lieutenants.SNP insiders have warned that its financial situation will worsen even further if this does not happen, as members continue to leave and donors are unwilling to hand over their money to the scandal-hit party under police investigation.
Ms Sturgeon's spokeswoman said she «has no intention of retiring.» Photo: James Chapelard.
Mr. Yusuf, who presented himself as a succession candidate during the recent SNP leadership contest, insisted that there was no reason to expel Ms. Sturgeon from the party or withdraw from Holyrood.
< p>He said he was not «troubled» by the leaked video, and even suggested that she was being criticized for Mr. Murrell's alleged actions.
But insiders said the party's mood began to turn against her after footage showed her telling the NEC that SNP finances «have never been this strong» and warned colleagues not to assume «any trouble» with in cash.
< p>Within weeks, Mr Murrell loaned £107,620 to the party to address what the SNP had previously described as 'cash flow' and a police investigation into the alleged fraud was launched.
< p>Since July 2021 the Scottish Police have been looking into how the SNP disposed of more than £600,000 in donations raised in 2017 for a second independence referendum.
Complaints were filed by supporters when reports filed with Companies House in 2020 showed that there were only £97,000 in the SNP bank despite the referendum never being held.
It was revealed on Saturday that Colin Beatty, SNP Treasurer, had expressed concerns about the state of the SNP's finances due to declining membership, reduced donors and rising costs associated with police investigation.
He said the party was «difficult to strike a balance,» adding: «We need to find money to keep the party going or we'll keep trimming our tail until there's nothing left.
One senior insider The SNP said the leaked footage looked «really bad» to Ms. Sturgeon and said a report by Keith Brown, the party's deputy leader, had been shelved, which recommended that there be no more financial transparency for members.
Claiming that Ms. Sturgeon, Mr. Murrell and other senior party officials maintained «reprehensible and unforgivable secrecy,» the insider said, «Practically everyone but the people at the top have been misled by our leaders.»
“We were taken for fools because none of them gave us a single word of explanation. It was complete secrecy, but at the same time it was assumed that deputies and members of parliament would show unconditional loyalty.”
Stating that emotions in the party ranged from «intense anxiety» to anger, one senior official said: «Even some of her (Sturgeon's) ardent loyalists are starting to wonder what's going on?»
They concluded: » This is the case when donkeys lead the lions.” .”
Humza Yousaf, First Minister of Scotland, said: «We are long gone to judge what a woman does based on what happens to her husband.» Photo: Jane Barlow/Pennsylvania.
Mr. Yousaf insisted the party was «solvent» but one MP warned: «Donations from now until this issue is resolved will be close to zero. At the moment, no one is going to give money to the party.”
They argued that this malaise could continue until next year's general election if Ms. Sturgeon and her leadership team did not «disperse this cloud.»
Asked about the leaked footage after speaking at the STUC conference in Dundee, Mr Yousaf argued that «any cash flow issues» could only be resolved after the «heavy spending» of the May 2021 Holyrood elections.
The First Minister said: «I was not particularly concerned about everything from the video, as some of our opponents seem to be.»
Assuring that Ms Sturgeon will not retire as MSP, he said: «We are long gone to judge what a woman does based on what happens to her husband.»
When asked if she should be removed from office, he replied: “No way.”
He added: “I think she warned about any misreporting about party finances. in the public domain. That was in March 2021, we are clearly in a different position now.”
SNP in turmoil
He said his focus was on finding a replacement for the party's longtime auditors, who retired last September. Mr. Yousaf admitted last week that he was not informed of the firm's resignation until he took over last month.
He said Ms. Sturgeon «can't hide» and «avoid review» without contacting Holyrood, claiming she has «duties as a Member of Parliament for Glasgow Southside.» outlining her priorities for the people of Scotland, Ms Sturgeon has always intended to participate remotely and intends to return to Holyrood in the near future.»
Ian Blackford, former leader of the SNP in Westminster, said he caused «a media frenzy around the SNP and accused journalists of «selective coverage» of Mr. Beatty's remarks.
“The SNP is solvent, we are able to fulfill our obligations,” the deputy said. «SNP will continue to operate as we have done for many decades and will continue to do so for the coming period.» .
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