Nicola Sturgeon is adamant she is innocent of wrongdoing following her arrest on Sunday.
The former SNP leader was questioned by detectives for several hours before being released without charge, pending further investigations. No one outside of Police Scotland knows how long Operation Branchform will last. Until police bring matters to a conclusion, the investigation will hang heavy over the SNP and, by extension, the Scottish Government.
It’s for that reason Sturgeon should voluntarily suspend her party membership until the investigation is concluded. The alternative is that Humza Yousaf will face repeated questions over why he has not acted decisively against her.
As her successor as First Minister, he has been left in a terrible position.
If he suspends Sturgeon, he risks infuriating her many supporters in the party. If he chooses to allow her to remain while the investigation continues, he will be branded weak by opponents.
This is a distraction he clearly doesn’t need when what he really needs to concentrate on is governing the country. Regardless of which path he follows, the image of the SNP has been tarnished.
During Sturgeon’s long spell as leader, several Nationalist parliamentarians were suspended for a variety of reasons. Michelle Thomson lost the party whip in 2015 while an SNP MP. She later rejoined and now serves as an MSP.
Thomson was among those questioning the decision not to suspend Sturgeon. It seems there is a clear precedent in the SNP on how to handle such matters.
The former first minister knows the damage already caused. She should do Yousaf a favour and step back now.
Scotland's Litterbug Shame
The idea of establishing “sea litter wardens” to tackle pollution along our shores has plenty of merit. But it’s a terrible shame they are needed in the first place.
Whether it’s companies or careless individuals, the blight of litter and waste in Scotland often feels never-ending – particularly plastic pollution, so devastating to our coasts and seas. Yet from some of the scenes we’ve witnessed on beaches or in parks in recent weeks, it’s like some people have learned absolutely nothing.
The warm weather has been an unwelcome reminder of how thoughtless and irresponsible some Scots are when it comes to tidying up after themselves. Leaving our beauty spots in a state is totally inexcusable.
We’ve all got to do our bit to fix this plastic and litter mess. That starts with everyone taking responsibility for how they dispose of their own rubbish. It’s not hard, and it’s the least we can do – for our neighbours and for the planet.
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