Another day brings another bombshell revelation about Scotland’s ruling party. Yesterday morning the SNP treasurer Colin Beattie was arrested by police investigating the party’s finances. It now transpires that Beattie has quit as the SNP’s national treasurer following his arrest. He also states that he will ‘be stepping back from my role on the Public Audit Committee until the police investigation has concluded’.
The arrest follows the arrest of Peter Murrell, Nicola Sturgeon’s husband who was previously the party’s chief executive, earlier this month. Murrell was released without charge pending further enquiries. In a statement, Police Scotland said:
A 71-year-old man has today, Tuesday, 18 April 2023, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party. The man is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives. A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
