The 71-year-old SNP treasurer Colin Beattie has been detained in connection with the continuing inquiry into the party’s finances, according to Police Scotland.
For 16 years, Mr. Beattie was the party’s treasurer.
Mr. Beattie presided over the SNP faction in the local government after being first elected as a councilor in Midlothian in 2007.
However, he relocated to Holyrood in 2011 after being chosen as an MSP for the newly created Midlothian North and Musselburgh seat.
Yet despite the SNP being in power throughout his tenure as an MSP, Mr Beattie has never achieved ministerial office, having never been invited by Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon or Humza Yousaf to serve in Government.
Mr Beattie briefly stepped back from his role in August 2020 after being defeated in an internal election by Douglas Chapman, but returned to his post when Mr Chapman resigned less than a year later.
In his resignation letter, Mr Chapman wrote: ‘Despite having a resounding mandate from members to introduce more transparency into the party’s finances, I have not received the support or financial information to carry out the fiduciary duties of National Treasurer.
‘Regretfully I have resigned with immediate effect.’
Between 2017 and 2020, the SNP raised a total of £666,953 through referendum-related appeals.
The party pledged to spend these funds on the independence campaign.
However, questions were raised after its accounts showed it had just under £97,000 in the bank at the end of 2019, prompting calls for the party to explain how it had accounted for the missing funds.
In August 2021, Mr Beattie sought to reassure members in a statement released alongside the party’s accounts, saying: ‘There has been concern expressed in some quarters that this system does not result in a separate fund being officially recorded in the annual accounts of the party.
‘Hence a claim from some that the money does not exist.
‘In fact, the money is earmarked through the internal process set out above and will be deployed fully through future cash flow for the purpose of promoting a referendum on independence and campaigns intended to secure independence.’
He continued: ‘While these monies are not separated out, their existence in terms of the commitment as to what they will be spent on is tangible.’
Mr Beattie’s arrest comes two weeks after Peter Murrell, husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, was also arrested as part of the investigation into the SNP’s funding.
Mr Murrell was detained by police for over 11 hours, but was later released without charge pending further investigation.
‘Leaked’ audio shared by The Mail on Sunday allegedly shows Nicola Sturgeon telling officials to stop asking about the Scottish National Party’s financial situation.
In it, she allegedly says: ‘We don’t need to talk about the finances. The finances are absolutely fine.’
A Police Scotland statement said: ‘A 71-year-old man has today, Tuesday, 18 April 2023, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.
‘The man is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives.
‘A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
‘The matter is active for the purposes of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and the public are therefore advised to exercise caution if discussing it on social media.
‘As the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further.’
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: ‘This is yet another deeply concerning development and the Police Scotland investigation must be allowed to proceed without interference.’
An emergency meeting of top SNP officials is reportedly taking place this afternoon, Sky News reports.
SNP leader Humza Yousaf told reporters he was ‘surpised’ to hear of Mr Beattie’s arrest but ruled out suspending the SNP treasurer.
He said he did not believe the party was acting in a ‘criminal manner’, but admitted he would consider removing Beattie from the the Holyrood’s public audit committee following his release from custody.
Elswehere today, Mr Yousaf said it was ‘brave’ of the Scottish Tories to attack his party over propriety.
The First Minister was challenged by opposition deputy leader Meghan Gallacher to suspend his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell.
Responding to the call, he said: ‘It is brave, some may use another word for it, when it comes to talking about propriety.
‘Your Prime Minister, your Deputy Prime Minister and the former prime minister are all under investigation by her Standards Commission.
‘So yes, while we absolutely face challenges, I’d rather be standing here with the opportunity to deliver for the people of Scotland, rather than languishing in opposition like Meghan Gallacher and the Scottish Tories.’