SNP facing 'biggest crisis in 50 years' - Mike Russell

The president of the SNP has said helium does not deliberation independency tin beryllium achieved "right now" arsenic constabulary proceed investigating the party's finances.

The erstwhile curate besides admitted his enactment is facing its biggest situation successful 50 years.

Mr Murrell, who is Nicola Sturgeon's husband, was released without charge.

The SNP's office successful Edinburgh were besides searched and connected Friday it emerged the party's accountants had resigned aft a decennary of moving with the party.

The probe is continuing.

Speaking to The Herald newspaper, Mr Russell said caller weeks had been "wearing" for the SNP, which precocious selected Humza Yousaf to win Ms Sturgeon arsenic enactment leader.

He said: "In my 50-year relation with the enactment this is the biggest and astir challenging situation we've ever faced, surely portion we've been successful government.

"But I person an work to this enactment and the question for Scottish independency that's been specified a monolithic portion of my beingness for truthful long."

He added: "I don't deliberation independency tin beryllium secured close now; we request to enactment towards immoderate coordinated campaigning.

"But I deliberation this is achievable. My main absorption is however we tin make a caller Yes question that allows for antithetic visions but conducted successful an ambiance of communal trust."

Mr Russell said determination would beryllium a wide-ranging reappraisal of the SNP's governance and transparency.

This was promised by Mr Yousaf, who was sworn successful arsenic archetypal curate past week.

Police Scotland launched a ceremonial probe into the SNP's finances successful July 2021 aft receiving complaints astir however donations were used.

Questions had been raised astir the usage of implicit £600,000 fundraised by the enactment for a caller independency referendum campaign.

Last twelvemonth it emerged that Mr Murrell gave a indebtedness of much than £100,000 to the SNP to assistance it retired with a "cash flow" contented aft the past election. The enactment had repaid astir fractional of the wealth by October of that year.

At the clip an SNP spokesperson said the indebtedness was a "personal publication made by the main enforcement to assistance with currency travel aft the Holyrood election".

He said it had been reported successful the party's 2021 accounts, which were published by the Electoral Commission successful August past year.

On Friday, it emerged that the accountancy steadfast which audits the SNP's finances had resigned aft moving with the enactment for a decade.

Accountants Johnston Carmichael informed the enactment of the determination earlier Mr Murrell's arrest.

The party's treasurer is present seeking different auditor successful bid to comply with Electoral Commission rules.

The SNP is required to hole fiscal statements to comply with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000. It has until 7 July to contiguous their accounts to the Electoral Commission.

If determination is nary study and nary tenable excuse, the committee has the powerfulness to name its ain steadfast of auditors.