SNP members told to support Sturgeon or quit

First Minister Humza Yousaf has called on SNP MSPs to consider leaving the party if they are unwilling to offer their support to former leader Nicola Sturgeon. During a meeting at Holyrood, Yousaf emphasised that failure to publicly endorse his decision to allow Sturgeon to retain her party if membership would be detrimental to the Independence movement.

Following ongoing investigations into the allocation of funds raised through online appeals, former FM Nicola Sturgeon was taken into custody by Police Scotland on Sunday. She was subsequently released without charges as the investigation progresses.

Amidst the ongoing Police Scotland investigation, SNP members Ash Regan and Michelle Thomson have been urging Humza Yousaf to suspend Nicola Sturgeon until the completion of Operation Branchform probe. Additionally, SNP MP Angus MacNeil criticized Yousaf for his handling of Sturgeon’s arrest, pointing out previous suspensions within the party for lesser offenses. A source revealed that Yousaf’s actions during the meeting were perceived as an attempt to demonstrate strength and deter any perception of weakness among his own MSPs.

A spokesperson for the SNP dismissed the accounts provided by sources, stating that they did not accurately represent the comments made by the First Minister. According to insiders, Yousaf emphasized that Scotland is now closer to achieving independence than ever before and cautioned against internal divisions that could undermine the momentum of the nationalist movement. Recent opinion polls following Yousaf’s assumption of leadership at Bute House indicate that the outcome of a second independence referendum is currently uncertain and too close to predict.

‘I was listening, I was engaged as any good leader would do. I had a really constructive conversation with the SNP group. Nicola Sturgeon is the most impressive politican I think we’ve seen in Europe’.

Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s First Minister

Peter Murrell, the husband of Nicola Sturgeon and former SNP chief executive, was taken into custody in April after police conducted a search at the couple’s residence in Glasgow. Following this, SNP treasurer Colin Beattie was also arrested in connection with the same investigation.