In public comments, Humza Yusuf said he 'didn't read the riot law' those who wanted Nicola Sturgeon to be removed from office. Photo: PA
An «excited» Humza Yousaf suggested that the MSP SNP leave the party if they did not support Nicola Sturgeon, who remained in the party after her arrest, according to party insiders.
>Nationalist sources say the first minister used this week's meeting of his Holyrood Group, the first since Ms Sturgeon's arrest on Sunday, to demand unity of his position.
He warned those who wanted Ms Sturgeon has been stripped of the party whip that they are creating a rift that is said to be detrimental to the cause of independence.
The SNP insisted that the reports «are not an accurate reflection of the First Minister's comments.»
< p>In public comments outside of the meeting, Mr. Yousaf said he «didn't read the riot law» to those who wanted Ms. Sturgeon removed from office.
«Humza got a little pissed off and really sucks
But high-ranking party insiders told The Telegraph that Mr Yusuf invited those who did not support his position to leave, stating: “Humza was a little upset and very angry. He began to feel the pressure.”
They said there is a «substantial minority» of SNP MPs who believe Ms Sturgeon should be stripped of the party whip and Mr Yusuf should «distancing» from her while the furor over party finances continues.
< p>The accusations came after a senior SNP MSP accused the Scottish Police and the media of conspiring to make Ms Sturgeon look bad and claimed her house was ransacked to look like «Fred West's house». » serial killer.
James Dornan, an MSP from Glasgow Cathcart, accused the press of «faking» Ms Sturgeon's arrest and claimed that the police helped ensure a «presence» for the media.
However, police spokesman for Scotland stated: «Any suggestion that the media was informed in advance of the arrest is untrue.» Insiders say a «substantial minority» of MSP SNP want Humza Yousaf to distance himself from Nicola Sturgeon as furore over the party's finances continues . Photo: PA
Since July 2021, the police have been looking into the SNP's handling of over £600,000 in donations raised in 2017 for a second independence referendum.
Supporters complained when reports filed with Companies House in 2020, revealed that the SNP had only £97,000 in the bank, despite the fact that the referendum had never been held.
Ms Sturgeon showed up at the 'arranged' police station on Sunday morning, where she was arrested in 10:09 and taken into custody. Detectives interrogated the 52-year-old woman about the «funding and finances of the Scottish National Party» until 17:24.
Police Scotland said she was released without charge pending further investigation and a report would be sent to the police. Crown and Attorney's Office of Revenue.
Ms Sturgeon issued a statement saying she was «not guilty of any wrongdoing» and the MSP SNP agreed at their group's meeting to send her flowers to » a sign of sympathy.
But Michelle Thomson, MSP Falkirk East, and Ash Regan, MP for Edinburgh East, said before the meeting that Ms Sturgeon should give up the party whip or have it removed if she refuses. .jpg» /> Michelle Thomson and Ash Regan say Nicola Sturgeon should give up the party whip or have it removed if she refuses. Photo: PA
They highlighted how several SNP and MSP MPs, including Ms. Thomson, were suspended from the party when Ms. Sturgeon was leader, even when there were no criminal cases or police investigations.
Party insiders said Ms Thomson delivered an impassioned speech. at a group meeting where she highlighted the lack of support she received when she faced allegations about her business dealings, which were later dropped.
But they alleged that Mr. Yousaf demanded that MSPs unite around his refusal to remove Ms. Sturgeon or leave, with one source telling The Times: «It was a clear manifestation that he was trying to show that he was not weak, threatening his own MSP.»
Another told The Telegraph: «The sooner he develops his own leadership style and puts some political distance between himself and her [Sturgeon], the better.»
p>
Craig Hoy, chairman of the Scottish Conservative, said: «This is a startling, heavy-handed threat that will only inflame the ire of SNP MSPs like Michelle Thomson, who lost her whip because of the party's long-standing precedent set for internal discipline.»< /p>
“This is the act of a weak leader desperately trying to set the law for his MSPs to protect the predecessor to whom he owes his job.”
The SNP spokesman declined to comment on what was discussed at the meeting because it was «a private space for the MSP to speak freely as a group».
However, he said that the report in The Times that Mr. Yousaf had warned the MSP that they should support Ms. Sturgeon or leave, was «not an accurate reflection of the First Minister's comments.»
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