Nicola Sturgeon 'still under investigation' after husband's embezzlement charges | John Boothman

On Friday, police issued a statement saying that a 53-year-old woman, Nicholas Stone, and a 71-year-old man calling himself the party's treasurer were

still

under

investigation

, a Sunday newspaper reported this morning that senior party figures are concerned about the prospect of more arrests so that the long shadow of that police

investigation

still

hangs over them. Nicholas Sturon spoke about how incredibly difficult the situation was regarding her

husband

and of course the former SNP chief executive of 22 years, some government politicians. those who are not doing so well are those in Scotland it has been a very dramatic week in Scottish politics Peter Marl The former chief executive of the party and

husband

of Nicholas ston was arrested again and charged and the climate change targets were watered down uh questions important on the future of the Coalition between the SNP and the Greens There is a lot going on and we thought we would find out what is around the corner this week with the times and the Sunday Times is Scottish political correspondent John Bootman afternoon John how are you Kate, my goodness what's going on up there, look this weekend there's a real sense of doom and gloom in the SNP.

I mean, everyone is a little shocked and bewildered even though we have known for a long time that what happened with Peter ml could come accused of

embezzlement

of party funds. A very, very, very serious situation adds up to a whole series of things. There have been major disputes in recent weeks over hate crime legislation. There have been pretty poor polls for the SNP. Independence itself is really moving down the agenda. Accusations against the government focusing on the wrong priorities and as Adam said, you know this week they have had the government in a very, very difficult position, both the SNP and the Greens in trouble for getting rid of a major change target. climate, that goal of reducing emissions by 75% by 2030, there is a large-scale revolt among the greens. uh, they could leave the Coalition leader, Patrick Harvey, this morning, saying that he didn't know whether he would win on that issue or not, if that actually happens.

It turned out that that would be more misery, more headache for Ham Youf because he, from the beginning, since his election last March, has all his political reputation in this agreement with the Greens. Let's take those two things in separate parts, in terms of the pet. Morel arrest, what happens next here and what is the impact on Nicholas Duron, but also on the S&P in general. Do you think it's okay? You know police issued a statement Friday saying a 53-year-old woman, Nicholas Stone, and a 71-year-old man were calling. Party treasurer still under investigation A Sunday newspaper reported this morning that senior party figures are worried about the prospect of further arrests, so the long shadow of that police investigation still hangs over them.

Nicholas Sturon talked about how incredibly difficult. uh the situation concerned her husband of course, the former SNP chief executive of 22 years, Peter ml, who, as we've said, has been accused of

embezzlement

um and uh, that's embezzlement of the SNP's own funds. snp and in terms of the impact. in the S&P more generally, I mean, does it do much more damage? Is the damage already priced in? I mean, how do people feel about it? Well, you know, if you talk to any SNP or MSPS candidate at the moment, they will tell you that We are going through a pretty toric time behind all those issues that I mentioned earlier, hate crime, uh, getting back to the recognition bill gender, all these identity issues, people accuse them of not focusing on the real priorities, those priorities for people like in Scotland, like the rest of the UK, they have doubts about the cost of living, they have doubts about the economy and all that is negatively affecting the SNP.

I think there have been three polls in the last three weeks, each showing that Labor would win 28 seats in Scotland out of 57 and the SNP would win 18 Theologian John Curtis said just yesterday that in the general election the SNP faces to an electoral calamity now, if that were to happen HS USF I don't think it will last long and others The newspapers this morning report, including ours in the Sunday Times, that people are already preparing candidates for this succession, yes, and the questions on climate goals will not help any of that. And the Sunday Times' Scottish political correspondent, John Boozman, thank you. for joining us this afternoon, thanks G, thanks along the way, some political news from other fields with the world's biggest elections going on in India right now, even if we look at the latest headlines with Tom Nunan.

I'm John, okay Prime Minister, thank you for doing the interview, what is your reaction today to the breaking news about Peter ml's arrest? Well, obviously I can't comment on the live police investigation. I would know, but what I will say is that the SNP has co-operated fully with the investigation and will continue to do so. So, and of course, in the weekend that just passed my first CNE meeting as party leader, we agreed to carry out a governance review in terms of transparency and, of course, also with some external contributions and the Details of that will be released in the coming weeks.

When did you first hear the news about the arrest and what was your reaction? They told me this morning after the event. And of course my reaction, as you might imagine, like that of anyone involved in the SNP, is that this is a difficult day. uh for the party but again I'm just reiterating and emphasizing that it's very important for me not to comment on a live police investigation and SE should be seen as biased that either way this is the real reason Nicholas Sturgeon resigned . No, I think Nicholas. Sturgeon absolutely, uh, uh, you know, she had taken the party as far as possible.

I think anyone who saw Nicola in particular during the copandemic could really sympathize with how exhausted he was, how do you think the audience will be? Reacting well to this news, I think there will be concern from the public, but again there is a live police investigation underway and we will wait to see what that police investigation concludes and what this means for the Sturgeon Legacy look at the legacy of Nicholas Sturgeon, uh, in particular, around the fight against child poverty and around the promise that she has made to care for young children. I think those legacies remain strong and are foundations that I want to build on now, of course the police investigation and the news this morning is a challenge, it's difficult, I'm not going to pretend otherwise, but also the reason why I am here to focus on the priorities of the day and the priorities of the Scottish people in general.

I have not been a civil servant in the S&P but you are now taking over the leadership of the party. Workers say there has been a culture of secrecy and cover-up. Do you want to get your hands into the game and just find out what's really been going on? As you can imagine, one of the first conversations I had was as party leaders, for example, party lawyers, and to understand not only the finances of the party, but also governance and transparency, and that's why my first meeting as The leader of the NEC on Saturday was to get the NEC to agree to a course of action around governance around transparency with something external.

I think that external input is going to be really important because people have questions about the game. about the transparency of our finances and I think we need to reassure members of our own party as well as the wider Scottish public, you said on the campaign that you want to be your own man, you are trying to make your points this week, this It's an in asici Start with your leadership, are you frustrated by that? Well, again, the police have to take whatever action they see fit, so I'm not going to criticize the timing when that's important, there's a police investment investigation, uh, that's ongoing, I won't comment. on that, but I hope to be able to demonstrate in the early days in terms of my official visits that my focus and the focus of the government is to substantially reduce child poverty; it's about, for example, trying to reduce inequality where we can and I We will stay focused on those priorities Prime Minister thank you very much thank you and