Nicola Sturgeon said she «will continue to take each day as it comes.» Nicola Sturgeon said the SNP police investigation that led to her husband's arrest went beyond her «worst nightmares». police ransacked the house for two days, she said it was a «very traumatic experience».
The former first minister insisted that her sudden resignation in February was not related to the unrest of the past few weeks and she was not questioned by the investigating officers.
However, she denied questions about the police confiscation of a luxurious mobile home near the home of her 92-year-old mother-in-law.
Her appearance in the Scottish Parliament came shortly after a speech by Colin Beatty, the party's former treasurer said he was unaware the party had bought the £110,000 car at the time of its purchase.
Beatty, who was arrested last week, said he did not agree to the purchase despite being in charge of the party's finances. However, he later said that he «learned about this deal from the 2021 annual accounts.» benefit as “she was unable or unwilling to answer any of the key questions the public is asking for answers.”
As of July 2021, Police Scotland are looking into the handling of over £600,000 in donations from the SNP . submitted in 2017 to the second independence referendum.
Peter Murrell was arrested, on April 5, the police searched the house in which he lives with Nicola Sturgeon. Photo: Andrew Milligan/PA
Supporters complained when reports filed with Companies House in 2020 showed the SNP had only £97,000 in the bank, despite the referendum never being held.
Police arrested Mr Murrell , who was SNP's chief executive for more than two decades before he stepped down last month on April 5 and then detained Mr. Beatty last week. Both men were released without charge pending further investigation.
The three registered SNP officers listed on the cover of her most recent reports submitted to the Board of Elections were Mr. Murrell, Mr. Beatty, and Ms. Sturgeon, prompting speculation. she could be arrested next.
The former first minister told reporters: «I understand some people's opinion that I knew things were about to unfold, and that's why I left.
«No nothing could be further from the truth.In my worst nightmares, I couldn't have foreseen what would happen in the last few weeks.»
Ms Sturgeon denied that the police gave her advance notice before they arrived at her home and arrested Mr Murrell, and insisted that she was honest about her reasons for leaving the post of First Minister.
She added: «It's not an opportunity for me to say 'poor me' because of this. This is a serious process. Clearly there are serious issues involved and I respect and will continue to respect this process at every stage.
“But it is clear that the events of the last few weeks have been difficult. And I use that word deliberately and deliberately — it's very traumatic in some ways.»
Ms Sturgeon said she would «continue to take every day as it comes» and continue as a Glasgow MSP Southside, adding that she worked from home. But in an intervention that sparked disbelief, she insisted that the SNP was in «good shape.» >She also declined to answer key questions about the affair, saying, «What I'll say up front is that I'm not going to go into any details that interfere with the live police investigation.
»There are there are many questions that I would like to be able to answer and I hope to someday answer, but it would be wrong and inappropriate for me to go into the details of what the police are currently investigating.”
< p>Ms Sturgeon said «one of the frustrating aspects» of the scandal was that she was unable to present her version of events, saying, «Hopefully the time will come when I can.»
But her The surprise appearance comes after Mr Beatty also returned to the Scottish Parliament after his arrest and answered a question about the motorhome.
When asked if he knew about the purchase and signed it, he said: «No, I didn't know about it.»
He declined to answer further questions about the vehicle, but later issued a statement explaining that he was «not aware of the deal at the time of purchase» and found out about it when he saw the invoices.
Clicked if the events of recent days were the worst thing that had ever happened to him, the former banker replied: “No, I really was in Beirut when I was under artillery fire. It was even worse.”
Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon: Timeline
Beatty, who is an MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, also insisted that SNP was «in the black» and «going forward» despite the fact that its auditors quit and the party was unable to find a replacement company.
Speaking after meeting with SNP MPs in Westminster, new First Minister Humza Yousaf declined to comment on Mr. Beatty's RV disclosure. He confirmed that he was only told about the car after he became party leader last month.
Jackie Bailey, deputy Scottish Labor leader, said: «Nicola Sturgeon could have asked a few questions, but she didn't give answers. Her attempt to downplay the extreme chaos we are seeing in the SNP is an insult to public opinion.»
Craig Hoy, chairman of the Scottish Conservative, said: «The former First Minister is adamant that she has no prior knowledge of how this scandal can unfold and that it played no role in her resignation.
«But the police have been investigating the missing £600,000 for almost two years, and sooner or later senior figures in the SNP have always demanded an explanation.»
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