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The former prime minister insisted there was "no reason" to worry about the party's finances. Nicola Sturgeon is facing fresh calls to resign from the Scottish National Party (SNP) after leaked video shows the former prime minister dismissing financial concerns. Leaked footage of an SNP NEC meeting in March 2021 showed Ms Sturgeon sternly admonishing her senior officials to be "very careful", suggesting there were "problems" with the accounting part.
Ms Sturgeon is also said to have blocked plans to hire a fundraising officer for the party when she was leader and prime minister despite concerns over transparency, leaked emails published by the Scottish Sunday Mail programme.
Scottish Labor deputy leader Jackie Baillie said Yousaf should suspend Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell while police investigations continue.
"This explosive revelation shows just how central Nicola Sturgeon was to the secrecy and cover-up culture that ran rampant within the SNP," Ms Baillie said.
The latest revelations follow the surprise arrest of Mrs Sturgeon's husband and the raid on the couple's Lanarkshire home during a police raid.
Peter Murrell was later released without charge, and police continue to investigate the party's finances.
Reports that Nicola Sturgeon plans to resign as MSP are just 'vain speculation', according to the former SNP leader in Westminster.
The Daily Telegraph quoted a source within the party as saying she planned to resign "as soon as possible" amid a dispute over party finances that resulted in the arrest of her husband, and former party director-general, by police. and then released. . No battery.
Speaking to the BBC, Ian Blackford said: "I think what you have seen is just idle speculation.
“I speak very frequently with my colleague Nicola and I can tell you that she is focused on serving the interests of her constituents.
Asked if it would prove distracting, Blackford dismissed the idea, adding: "I think history will judge all of us and I think history will show a woman who led our country, who has carried us through the pandemic of Covid, who has given us all inspirational leadership during this period of his leadership.
Nicola Sturgeon speaking to the media outside her home
Nicola Sturgeon and her successor Humza Yousaf
Nicola Sturgeon will not return to the Scottish Parliament this week, The Scotsman reported, with the former first minister attending virtually in her place.
He reportedly claimed that the decision was made in advance to give space for his successor Humza Yousaf.
Opposition leaders have accused her of trying to avoid scrutiny as she faces questions about her husband's arrest.
Ian Blackford said there was "no reason" to suspend Ms Sturgeon
The Sunday Mail published the leaked video on Sunday, with opposition parties calling on new leader Humza Yousaf to suspend her in a move described as "political" by Ian Blackford.
"My God, my God, absolutely not, there's no reason for that," Blackford told BBC Radio Scotland on Monday when asked whether the SNP should sanction the former prime minister.
"I think some of our opponents are playing politics, really, in this context."
Nicola Sturgeon should not be suspended by the SNP after leaked video showed her urging the party's governing body to "be very careful" not to suggest she was in financial trouble, the party leader in Westminster says.
In the video, Blackford said, there was "nothing wrong", adding: "What the (former) prime minister was thinking about was the ability of the SNP to behave as an organisation, with the financial resources to fight the elections and to support its members.
SNP leader Humza Yousaf is facing calls to suspend his predecessor, Nicola Sturgeon, following claims police are investigating attempts to end scrutiny of the party's finances.
Ms Sturgeon blocked plans to hire a fundraising officer for the party when she was leader and prime minister despite concerns about transparency, leaked emails appear to show.
Police Scotland detectives investigating party finances received emails showing Ms Sturgeon quashed the idea of a fundraising official in June 2021, according to the Scottish Sunday Mail.
The newspaper also published a video in which Ms Sturgeon told the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) that there were no problems with the accounts, despite concerns.
Adam Forrest reports:
Leaked video shows former SNP leader angrily denying any financial issues
...on our live blog, where we'll keep you up to date with the latest news as Nicola Sturgeon faces fresh calls to resign following a leaked video showing her downplaying her party's funding issues.
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