After becoming party leader, the first minister of Scotland discovered the SNP had bought an expensive motorhome.
Humza Yousaf stated that he was presented with a warrant to seize property from the gathering, including the vehicle.
Last week, the RV was impounded in front of a residence in Dunfermline.
According to party sources, it was intended to be used as a “campaign battle bus” before the 2021 Holyrood election.
They told that it would have served as a “mobile campaign room” if Covid restrictions had prevented other blending methods. But it was never used.
During a visit to a Glasgow primary school, Mr. Yousaf was asked when he first learned that the party had purchased the Niesmann + Bischoff vehicle, which retails for over £100,000.
He responded, “Shortly thereafter, I became the party’s leader.”
The prime minister stated, “Of course, the police provide us with a warrant for items they intend to seize.
“I can’t comment on the specifics, but I can say that the police have acted responsibly. And I have seen the warrant for the items they’ve confiscated, including the motorhome you mentioned.”
The vehicle has been positioned in front of Peter Murrell’s mother’s residence since January 2021. Mr. Murrell is married to Nicola Sturgeon and was the SNP’s chief executive until recently.
It was taken the same day police searched Ms. Sturgeon and Mr. Murrell’s Glasgow home and the SNP’s Edinburgh offices. Mr. Murrell was detained and subsequently released without being charged.
Officers are probing the SNP’s finances after activist complained about spending more than £600,000.
Mr. Yousaf stated that the public had “very reasonable” concerns regarding the issue of SNP transparency.
Since September, the SNP has been without auditors, it has been revealed. Johnston Carmichael, which audited the party’s accounts for over a decade, stated that the decision to no longer work with the party was made following a review of its clients.
Mr. Yousaf stated that he was unaware of the issue until he became leader, adding that “it would have been useful to have known beforehand” and that “there should have been greater transparency surrounding the party finances.”
He stated that he was now committed to quickly locating replacement auditors for the party.
The first minister spoke the day after the Scottish government announced it would file a legal challenge against the United Kingdom government’s block on its gender recognition reforms.
Mr. Yousaf said he did not “know the full costs” of legal action, but “it is an important principle.”
He stated, “Spending taxpayer funds to defend the will of the Scottish Parliament and devolution is important to me.”
He stated that he would challenge the legislation even if he “fundamentally disagreed” with it, claiming that if he did not, the UK government would “veto legislation after legislation” passed by Holyrood.
Lord Sumption, a former Supreme Court judge, told that the Scottish government’s position was “weak” and that the legal challenge would be “extremely challenging.”
The Court of Session in Edinburgh will hear the judicial review case, but the UK Supreme Court will likely rule.
Lord Sumption stated, “Section 35 empowers the UK government to prevent a Scottish bill from becoming law if it modifies the law about a matter reserved to Westminster in a manner that hurts the operation of the law.
The UK government says the Scottish bill weakens equal opportunity law.
Thus, if this measure passes, certain UK people will have distinct legal genders depending on where they live.
Mr. Yousaf responded “No” when asked if he would resign as prime minister if the legal challenge was unsuccessful.
