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Senior SNP officials fear Ms Sturgeon could be the next figure to be arrested in the Scottish police investigation. SNP treasurer Colin Beattie resigned a day after being questioned by police investigating the party's finances amid fears Nicola Sturgeon could be arrested next. The Midlothian North and Musselburgh MSP was arrested by Police Scotland for questioning on Tuesday and released without charge.
And on Wednesday, Beattie said he would step down as party treasurer "with immediate effect" and also resign from his position on the Scottish Parliament's Public Audit Committee.
“On a personal level, this decision was not easy, but it is the right decision not to further divert attention from the important work that Humza Yousaf is doing to improve the governance and transparency of the PNS,” he said.
Mr Beattie added: "I will continue to fully cooperate with Police Scotland investigations and it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on an ongoing matter."
Scottish Labor Party deputy leader Jackie Baillie said it was the "right decision" made by "the wrong man".
"While Humza Yousaf bought time and didn't do the right thing, Colin Beattie at least got to see the writing on the wall," he said. “For too long, a culture of secrecy and concealment has been allowed to fester within the SNP.
“And as the investigation widens, the SNP still refuses to take the critical step of suspending MSPs who are under police investigation.
"Humza Yousaf's inability to act has been clear: his priority is a cover-up to protect the SNP, not the people of Scotland."
Scottish Conservative Chairman Craig Hoy said it was "right" for Beattie to back down. He added: “But the SNP leadership should have acted decisively to solve this problem immediately, instead of procrastinating. Now they should suspend him, Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon from the party until this murky matter is resolved.
Yousaf has so far rejected calls to suspend her predecessor Nicola Sturgeon and her husband, Peter Murrell, while the police investigation continues.
Police Scotland is currently investigating the issue of the £660,000 raised by the SNP for the Scottish independence campaign, following allegations of donation fraud.
The investigation, dubbed Operation Branchform, was launched in 2021 after it was alleged that money had been embezzled from a "closed" fund to fight a second Scottish independence referendum, prompting the resignation of several senior officials from the governing body. SNP government.
Beattie's arrest and resignation followed the arrest two weeks ago of Chief Executive Murrell, who was released without charge pending further investigation.
The 71-year-old will remain the deputy head of Holyrood's Fair Labor and Economy Committee for the time being. Yousaf, who won the competition to replace Sturgeon last month, will take over as party treasurer until a permanent replacement for Beattie is named.
The arrest and resignation of Mr Beattie is the latest blow to hit the embattled party. It comes as senior SNP officials fear that Ms Sturgeon may be the next figure to be arrested in the investigation.
Ms Sturgeon, Mr Murrell and Mr Beattie were named in financial information presented at the SNP conference last year, the source said, but added that police would want to "cover their bases" before any arrests are made. .
Some MPs and party MPs also said it was "inevitable" that Sturgeon would be questioned by police on bail in the coming weeks.
And despite Beattie's arrest, Yousaf said he "does not believe" the SNP is operating in a criminal manner. The Scottish first minister also said he was "shocked" that one of his colleagues had been arrested.
Ash Regan, who came last in the SNP leadership race, said he had "some sympathy" for those who say the race should now be restarted given the current turmoil.
Although he said he was not asking for a repeat, he told BBC Radio 4's Today program that "some people" make that point, adding: "I have some sympathy for this argument."
Runner-up Kate Forbes said on Wednesday Yousaf needed to take "swift and decisive action" or the party would be in trouble at the next general election.
Colin Beattie resigns as SNP treasurer amid investigation into party finances
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