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| SNP facing 'biggest crisis in 50 years' - Mike Russell | SNP facing 'biggest crisis in 50 years' - Mike Russell |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Senior SNP figure Mike Russell has admitted the party is facing a crisis | Senior SNP figure Mike Russell has admitted the party is facing a crisis |
| The president of the SNP has said he does not think independence can be achieved "right now" as police continue investigating the party's finances. | The president of the SNP has said he does not think independence can be achieved "right now" as police continue investigating the party's finances. |
| The former minister also admitted his party is facing its biggest crisis in 50 years. | The former minister also admitted his party is facing its biggest crisis in 50 years. |
| His comments follow the arrest of former chief executive Peter Murrell by police on Wednesday and the search of his home. | His comments follow the arrest of former chief executive Peter Murrell by police on Wednesday and the search of his home. |
| Mr Murrell, who is Nicola Sturgeon's husband, was released without charge. | Mr Murrell, who is Nicola Sturgeon's husband, was released without charge. |
| The SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh were also searched and on Friday it emerged the party's accountants had resigned after a decade of working with the party. | The SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh were also searched and on Friday it emerged the party's accountants had resigned after a decade of working with the party. |
| The investigation is continuing. | The investigation is continuing. |
| SNP auditors quit amid Murrell police probe | SNP auditors quit amid Murrell police probe |
| Peter Murrell released without charge after arrest | Peter Murrell released without charge after arrest |
| Speaking to The Herald newspaper, Mr Russell said recent weeks had been "wearing" for the SNP, which recently selected Humza Yousaf to succeed Ms Sturgeon as party leader. | Speaking to The Herald newspaper, Mr Russell said recent weeks had been "wearing" for the SNP, which recently selected Humza Yousaf to succeed Ms Sturgeon as party leader. |
| He said: "In my 50-year association with the party this is the biggest and most challenging crisis we've ever faced, certainly while we've been in government. | He said: "In my 50-year association with the party this is the biggest and most challenging crisis we've ever faced, certainly while we've been in government. |
| "But I have an obligation to this party and the movement for Scottish independence that's been such a massive part of my life for so long." | "But I have an obligation to this party and the movement for Scottish independence that's been such a massive part of my life for so long." |
| He added: "I don't think independence can be secured right now; we need to work towards some coordinated campaigning. | He added: "I don't think independence can be secured right now; we need to work towards some coordinated campaigning. |
| "But I think this is achievable. My main focus is how we can create a new Yes movement that allows for different visions but conducted in an atmosphere of mutual trust." | "But I think this is achievable. My main focus is how we can create a new Yes movement that allows for different visions but conducted in an atmosphere of mutual trust." |
| Police officers carried boxes out of SNP headquarters following the search | Police officers carried boxes out of SNP headquarters following the search |
| Mr Russell said there would be a wide-ranging review of the SNP's governance and transparency. | Mr Russell said there would be a wide-ranging review of the SNP's governance and transparency. |
| This was promised by Mr Yousaf, who was sworn in as first minister last week. | This was promised by Mr Yousaf, who was sworn in as first minister last week. |
| 'Pretty wearing' | |
| Mr Russell said he would support Mr Yousaf, who positioned himself as the "continuity candidate" in the leadership race. | |
| He said: "I'll do as much as I can, but it's true that the last few weeks have been pretty wearing. All I can do is put my trust in working with others to get it right. | |
| "Like it or not, the party has chosen Humza to do this and I want to help him in that as much as I can. | |
| "Parties and institutions are fallible. In a sense though, it's a case of 'The King is Dead, Long Live the King'. That's the way it's got to be." | |
| Police Scotland launched a formal investigation into the SNP's finances in July 2021 after receiving complaints about how donations were used. | Police Scotland launched a formal investigation into the SNP's finances in July 2021 after receiving complaints about how donations were used. |
| Questions had been raised about the use of over £600,000 fundraised by the party for a fresh independence referendum campaign. | Questions had been raised about the use of over £600,000 fundraised by the party for a fresh independence referendum campaign. |
| Mr Russell said he would help new party leader Humza Yousaf as much as he could | |
| Last year it emerged that Mr Murrell gave a loan of more than £100,000 to the SNP to help it out with a "cash flow" issue after the last election. The party had repaid about half of the money by October of that year. | Last year it emerged that Mr Murrell gave a loan of more than £100,000 to the SNP to help it out with a "cash flow" issue after the last election. The party had repaid about half of the money by October of that year. |
| At the time an SNP spokesman said the loan was a "personal contribution made by the chief executive to assist with cash flow after the Holyrood election". | At the time an SNP spokesman said the loan was a "personal contribution made by the chief executive to assist with cash flow after the Holyrood election". |
| He said it had been reported in the party's 2021 accounts, which were published by the Electoral Commission in August last year. | He said it had been reported in the party's 2021 accounts, which were published by the Electoral Commission in August last year. |
| Mr Murrell resigned as the party's chief executive last month after taking responsibility for misleading statements about a fall in party membership. He had held the post since 1999. | Mr Murrell resigned as the party's chief executive last month after taking responsibility for misleading statements about a fall in party membership. He had held the post since 1999. |
| The latest headlines from Scotland | The latest headlines from Scotland |
| On Friday, it emerged that the accountancy firm which audits the SNP's finances had resigned after working with the party for a decade. | On Friday, it emerged that the accountancy firm which audits the SNP's finances had resigned after working with the party for a decade. |
| Accountants Johnston Carmichael informed the party of the decision before Mr Murrell's arrest. | Accountants Johnston Carmichael informed the party of the decision before Mr Murrell's arrest. |
| The party's treasurer is now seeking another auditor in order to comply with Electoral Commission rules. | The party's treasurer is now seeking another auditor in order to comply with Electoral Commission rules. |
| The SNP is required to prepare financial statements to comply with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000. It has until 7 July to present their accounts to the Electoral Commission. | The SNP is required to prepare financial statements to comply with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000. It has until 7 July to present their accounts to the Electoral Commission. |
| If there is no report and no reasonable excuse, the commission has the power to appoint its own firm of auditors. | If there is no report and no reasonable excuse, the commission has the power to appoint its own firm of auditors. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Scottish independence | Scottish independence |
| SNP (Scottish National Party) | SNP (Scottish National Party) |