Alex Salmond has said that he is "very sad" about what is happening to the SNP following the arrest of Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell.
Murrell was arrested on Wednesday morning in connection with an investigation into the funding and finances of the SNP.
The 58-year-old remains in custody and is being questioned by detectives. The couple's home was cordoned off this morning by police officers and the party's offices were raided by police.
Former first minister Salmond was walking into the BBC’s Edinburgh office just 25 metres away from the headquarters of the SNP when he spoke to the media.
He said: “It’s a very live investigation, so I couldn’t really comment on the specifics.
“I led the SNP for a long time, so I’m very sad about what’s happening to it, and indeed what it’s become.
“We should remember the cause of independence, and the case for it, has never been stronger and that’s what myself and Alba are concentrating on putting forward.”
Salmond led the SNP for two ten year periods between 1990 and 2000 and between 2004 and 2014.
Sturgeon was his deputy for the second period before becoming SNP leader and first minister.
Murrell worked alongside Salmond as party CEO, having held the role from 1999 until last month.
Salmond left the party in 2018 amid allegations of sexual misconduct. He was charged with 14 offences but was acquitted in 2020. He has since criticised Sturgeon for the investigation into the allegations.
Salmond is now leader of the pro-independence Alba party.
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