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First minister Humza Yousaf ‘didn’t know about SNP motorhome until he became party leader’
First minister Humza Yousaf has said he was unaware the SNP owned a £100,000 motorhome until he became the party leader in recent weeks.
The state-of-the-art vehicle was seized last week by detectives outside the home of an elderly relative of the party’s former chief executive, Peter Murrell, while the 58-year-old was in police custody facing questions over the SNP’s finances and funding.
Mr Murrell was released without charge pending further investigations after an 11-hour detention.
Mr Yousaf said: “Of course I have been briefed. The police, of course, give us a warrant of the items they are looking to take in their possession.”
Probed on when he became aware of the motorhome being an SNP asset, the first minister said: “Shorty after I became the leader of the party.”
As questions continue to mount over the party’s finances, there is a race against the clock to find replacement auditors for the SNP’s financial accounts after its previous firm, Johnston Carmichael, quit last September.
The information only became public in recent days.
Police Scotland officers at Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell’s home in Glasgow
Officers also raided the SNP’s headquarters in Edinburgh
Political parties are legally obliged to submit independently audited accounts to the Electoral Commission by July.
Mr Yousaf said: “We are going to try to [meet the deadline] but it’s going to be difficult. It is going to be a challenge, but we are going to do our best to meet that deadline.”
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Nicola Sturgeon with husband Peter Murrell
Asked whether it was wrong of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon not to reveal to SNP leadership candidates the lack of auditors, Mr Yousaf responded: “Frankly it would have been helpful to know beforehand.
“I think people have a reasonable question to ask the party around transparency. I have committed to a review of governance with external input.”
The SNP leader also revealed he did not know the full costs of mounting a legal challenge against the UK government on controversial gender reforms.
A demonstration for trans rights outside the UK government office in Edinburgh
On Wednesday, his administration announced it was triggering a court battle after Downing Street blocked Holyrood’s legislation, which makes it easier for children as young as 16 to legally change their gender.
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The Scottish and UK governments are battling over a gender reform bill
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claims the new Scottish laws infringe on UK-wide equality laws and his Scottish Secretary, Alister Jack, has therefore blocked the reforms from gaining Royal Assent.
Speaking for the first time since the legal standoff began, Mr Yousaf said: “We don’t know the full costs of the court case.”