Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Shona Robison has admitted a damaging culture was “allowed to develop” within the SNP leadership and the party must “get its house in order”.
Ms Robison denied former leader was responsible for the scandal over transparency in the SNP despite her being party leader for eight years.
She said the party needs to “get its house in order ...there are clearly big issues for the party here.”
When asked if Sturgeon was to blame she told Sky News: “I’m not sure it’s just with Nicola Sturgeon here - everyone has a role to play in not resolving some of these governance issues.
“A culture has been allowed to develop at headquarters and in terms of the governance of the party. [The culture was] one that needed to be more open and more transparent and people being able to ask questions.
“Humza Yousaf has made it clear that is what he wants to see in terms of a new culture and those new governance arrangements. He acted swiftly to take all that on board and start to make the changes that need to be made.”
Detectives have made arrests of senior SNP figures in recent weeks in an onging probe into the party’s finances and funding.
Treasurer Colin Beattie was released without charge on Tuesday after facing a day of police questioiung.
Mr Yousaf said that Mr Beattie’s arrest was “not helpful” after he laid his plans as SNP leader to the Scottish Parliament.
Asked whether he was “surprised” at the news of Mr Beattie’s arrest, the first minister said: “Of course I’m surprised when one of my colleagues is arrested.”
Ms Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell was also questioned as a suspect while the home of the SNP’s former chief executive was searched by officers.
He was later released without charge pending further investigations after being held for 11 hours.
At the same time that he was in police custody, detectives seized a £100,000 motorhome from outside the home of one of Mr Murrell’s elderly relatives.
