Rishi Sunak reports Nicola Sturgeon joke to police

Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was the butt of a joke in Rishi Sunak's speech. Photo: Watty Cheung/Getty Images

Rishi Sunak has been reported to Police Scotland for joking during a Conservative conference speech about Nicola Sturgeon going to jail.

Chris McEleny, Chief Executive Alex Salmond's Alba party secretary has lodged a complaint with Police Scotland. claiming the Prime Minister had committed contempt of court.

Although Ms Sturgeon was not charged with anything, he noted that contempt proceedings in Scotland begin when a person is arrested.

In June Ms Sturgeon was questioned as a «suspect» by detectives investigating the SNP's finances. . She was later released without charge pending further investigation and has since denied any wrongdoing.

The Prime Minister used his keynote speech at the Tory conference to declare that the Union was «the strongest in recent memory». quarter century.»

He then made a jibe about the police investigation into the SNP's finances, causing widespread amusement among conference delegates .

«Nicola Sturgeon wanted to go down in the history books as the woman who destroyed our country, but now it looks like she may go down in history for very different reasons,» Mr Sunak said.

«We represent a remarkable combination of four nations with a proud history, and that history should give us enormous confidence in our future.»

But Mr McAleny said: «The Prime Minister is commenting and making assumptions about the ongoing Police Scotland investigation.

“In Scotland, contempt is shown by arrest rather than charge. Operation Branchform investigates serious matters of the utmost importance.»

He added: «This is too important an issue to allow the Prime Minister to interfere with this act of disrespect when many people are waiting for the facts about the actions of Police Scotland.» investigation.»

Support for the SNP has fallen sharply since Ms Sturgeon's sudden resignation in February and a high-profile police investigation into the party's finances.

Peter Murrell, Ms Sturgeon's husband and former SNP chief executive, was arrested along with Colin Beattie, the party's former treasurer. They are also being released without charge pending further investigation.

Police searched the home Ms Sturgeon shares with Mr Murrell, set up a large evidence tent outside and seized a luxury caravan outside his elderly home mother.

A75 modernization plan

Mr Sunak also used his speech to promise that some of the £36 billion in savings from canceling the northern section of HS2 would be used to upgrade the key road linking Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Prime Minister said there would be improvements to the A75 between Gretna and the Scottish port of Cairnryan, where ferry services depart to Northern Ireland, «connect our Union».

The heavily congested and slow route in south-west Scotland has been identified as a priority in Sir Peter Hendy's Union Links Review.

The heavily congested and slow route in south-west Scotland has been identified as a priority.

p>

Mhairi Black, Deputy Leader of Westminster The SNP, said: “Rishi Sunak's speech underscores that no promise made by the Tories can ever be taken seriously.”

“The Tories have failed time and time again to deliver on Scotland's priorities during their time in power. while destroying the economy, exacerbating the cost of living crisis and pushing tens of thousands of families across the UK into poverty.»