…Researched and contributed by Solomon Thomas.
Scotland’s National Party (SNP) has admitted that it purchased the luxury motorhome seized by police from the home of Nicola Sturgeon’s mother-in-law, the party’s new leader, Humza Yousaf confirmed.
The vehicle has been parked on Margaret Murrell’s driveway since 2021.
Yousaf stated that he only became aware of the SNP’s purchase of the motorhome when he was shown a police warrant, detailing items that the police officers wanted to seize as part of their investigation into £600,000 of party funds that went missing.
Yousaf revealed that he only found out about the motorhome “shortly after becoming leader,” but did not provide a date or explanation for why the purchase was made.
He explained that police had given the party a warrant for the items to be taken into their possession and that he had seen the warrant as leader.
The investigation into the missing funds has been described by SNP president Mike Russell as the party’s biggest crisis in 50 years.
Police Seize Motorhome and Search Sturgeon and Murrell’s Home
A Niesmann + Bischoff motorhome, which can sell for around £110,000, was seized by police from the home of Margaret Murrell in Fife at the same time as police searched the home of Sturgeon and Murrell.
Murrell, the husband of Scotland’s First Minister, was arrested by police on Wednesday last week and questioned for nearly 12 hours before being released without charge.
Police Scotland officers also searched the SNP’s headquarters in Edinburgh and removed boxes of items.
Sturgeon Speaks About Case to Reporters
Sturgeon publicly addressed the case for the first time last weekend, speaking to reporters outside her home.
She stated that the last few days had been “obviously difficult” and that she would “fully co-operate” with the police investigation.
The SNP is currently under scrutiny over the missing £600,000, which was initially meant to be used for a second independence referendum.
The SNP is also facing questions over the resignation of its auditors, which it blames on a backlog caused by the pandemic.