headache for core and is a massive headache for humza yousaf, the new first minister, who replaced nicola sturgeon only a couple of months ago. it sturgeon only a couple of months ao, a a, , , sturgeon only a couple of months auo. , a, , , a, sturgeon only a couple of months auo. , a, ,, ,, ago. it certainly is a surprising development _ ago. it certainly is a surprising development there. _ ago. it certainly is a surprising development there. thank - ago. it certainly is a surprising| development there. thank you ago. it certainly is a surprising - development there. thank you for talking through that with us. the scottish political editor from the times. if you are just scottish political editor from the times. if you arejustjoining us here on bbc news, this is the story that we are covering of breaking news just happening now. that we are covering of breaking newsjust happening now. police in scotland had arrested nicola sturgeon as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the finances of the scottish national party. officers earlier confirmed that they had taken a 52—year—old woman into custody, and that she was being questioned by detectives. nicola sturgeon, you will remember, quit as first minister and snp leader in early april. she is the third person to be

arrested as part of this operation that the police have been conducting into the finances of the snp. let's go now tojamie, into the finances of the snp. let's go now to jamie, bbc news scotland's political correspondence. thank you for staying on the line for us. for those who have justjoined for staying on the line for us. for those who havejustjoined us, i think it is worth recapping, what has led us to this moment, where a former first minister has been arrestedmike this former first minister has been arrestedmik , , ., ., ., arrestedmike this investigation into snp finances _ arrestedmike this investigation into snp finances which _ arrestedmike this investigation into snp finances which has _ arrestedmike this investigation into snp finances which has been - arrestedmike this investigation into snp finances which has been going| arrestedmike this investigation into i snp finances which has been going on for two years now, and how money is spent and money is raised for the purposes of campaigning and a second independence referendum has been spent. the statement has been issued by police scotland about half an hour ago, which certainly took many by surprise on a sunday afternoon, even though there had been much anticipation in scottish political circles about the possibility that sooner or later, nicola sturgeon might be arrested and questioned as part of this operation. in the

statement from police, they confirmed that a 52—year—old woman was taken into custody as a suspect, and she is being questioned by detectives. you will remember that just over a couple of months ago, on the 5th of april, mrjohn's husband, peter murrell, former chief executive of the snp was also arrested in question. a big search operation took place at the home the couple share in the east of glasgow. many will remember those images of the big police tent, in the couples front garden. then, a couple weeks later, the party's former treasurer colin beattie was also arrested and questioned. both men were questioned for several hours by officers, but released without charge to. as the law stands in scotland, the police have the right to take somebody into custody for the legally defined period of up to 12 hours of questioning, before they have to be

released at pending, if necessary, further inquiries. under the criminal justice further inquiries. under the criminaljustice scotland act of 2016, police can release a suspect for further investigation, 2016, police can release a suspect forfurther investigation, but 2016, police can release a suspect for further investigation, but they can be rearrested at a later date. thank you jamie, for that summary. our correspondent in scotland. let's go live now to brian taylor, former bbc scotland political editor. brian, did you see this moment coming at all?— coming at all? there's been anticipation _ coming at all? there's been anticipation for _ coming at all? there's been anticipation for a _ coming at all? there's been anticipation for a few - coming at all? there's been| anticipation for a few weeks, coming at all? there's been - anticipation for a few weeks, given they had arrested peter murrell, the former chief executive of the party, given they had arrested the treasurer of the party, the former treasurer, what was left? it had to be the boss. at the time that this issue of finance is raised, and that the boss was of course nicola sturgeon, untilshe the boss was of course nicola sturgeon, until she stood down as leader and stood down as first minister. it was expected after the arrests of colin beattie and peter murrell, that any day, there was a kind of grim humour going round

holyrood, that any day now we'll be hearing that a 52—year—old woman will be helping police scotland with inquiries. it has taken a bit longer than expected. nicola sturgeon has released a statement saying that she always intended to cooperate, and has cooperated at all stages with the police, and will continue to do so. she also issued a that neither she nor mr murrell are staying at their home in glasgow. she is assuring that statement to avoid the place being besieged by the media, and the neighbours being disturbed, and the neighbours being disturbed, and she is not staying with relatives either. appealing for a degree of peace with regard to that. but as jamie said there, this is quite a remarkable develop meant. we must bear in mind that the previous two people who were arrested were released without charge. it is entirely possible that the same will happen with regard to miss sturgeon. but it is also possible damage entirely obvious that police are taking this exceptionally seriously, where it is coming to the point of

nicola sturgeon being taken into custody. nicola sturgeon being taken into custod . ,, �* ,, custody. quite right. and despite that appeal _ custody. quite right. and despite that appeal for — custody. quite right. and despite that appeal for peace _ custody. quite right. and despite that appeal for peace and - custody. quite right. and despite that appeal for peace and calm, i custody. quite right. and despite i that appeal for peace and calm, this is likely to cause a media storm, isn't it? it is likely to cause a media storm, isn't it? . ., , , isn't it? it will certainly cause that. isn't it? it will certainly cause that- the _ isn't it? it will certainly cause that. the media _ isn't it? it will certainly cause that. the media storm - isn't it? it will certainly cause that. the media storm has i isn't it? it will certainly cause l that. the media storm has only abated for a slight degree in order to arise again for this development. this is the dilemma and problem and conundrum for mrjim's successor humza yousaf. he was not the leader of the party at the time these accusations relate to. it relates to money being raised in independence campaign, and questions as to what became of that money. he was not the leader or the treasurer of the party at that time. he was not responsible for these elements. he is not in position to respond to these questions. and yet, he is the one in place to take the political flak, in a sort of grim game, where it's going round and round that he is landing in the chair at the time

that the hammer descends. he has to face the flak, and they have particular governmental problems were in the scottish government is well over the health service, economy, education failures, etc. he doesn't need this. he really doesn't. �* . doesn't need this. he really doesn't. �* , doesn't need this. he really doesn't. a doesn't need this. he really doesn't. r , doesn't need this. he really doesn't. a , , ., doesn't. as you say, this is a headache — doesn't. as you say, this is a headache humza _ doesn't. as you say, this is a headache humza yousaf - doesn't. as you say, this is a l headache humza yousaf would doesn't. as you say, this is a - headache humza yousaf would rather not have. so far, how have members of the public responded to these going on is within the snp? it is difficult to going on is within the snp? it 3 difficult to gauge that, because there is a big degree of bill will cement and bemusement. by definition, given it is the police inquiry, ratherthan definition, given it is the police inquiry, rather than a court case a public inquiry, the full details are not coming to light, such as the full details may be. snp representatives has repeatedly said that nothing was done wrong. and they have answers to the questions that are coming. but as you heard earlier from that are coming. but as you heard earlierfrom previous that are coming. but as you heard earlier from previous contributors, these questions have been coming to these questions have been coming to the police now for two years. it has

been constantly in the background and occasionally bubbling like today, in the past half hour, very vigorously and sharply into the foreground. it is difficult to know the public mood. doesn't help the snp? it is hardly a good look. the optics are decidedly sub—prime, when you see police searching the home of the former party leader. when you see them searching the home party headquarters in edinburgh, taking away documentation, it is not a good look, bluntly, for the snp. and for the currency to humza yousaf. and he can do almost nothing about it. —— for the current leader. this can do almost nothing about it. -- for the current leader.— for the current leader. this began back in 2021. _ for the current leader. this began back in 2021, is _ for the current leader. this began back in 2021, is there _ for the current leader. this began back in 2021, is there still- for the current leader. this began back in 2021, is there still a - for the current leader. this began back in 2021, is there still a long l back in 2021, is there still a long road ahead for the snp? the police are not declaring _ road ahead for the snp? the police are not declaring anything - road ahead for the snp? the police are not declaring anything with - are not declaring anything with regard to that. the background was that 666,000 plus was raised. mostly the brexit referendum, in anticipation of a further independence referendum. the question is what became of that cash. various snp figures as i say,

are adamant that they have answers to give, and that they have responses to give to the investigation is coming from the police. this will take as long as it takes, with regard to the police, they are obviously demonstrating. one thing to perhaps comment, they are obviously demonstrating that they are pursuing this extremely assiduously. they don't want any suggestion of anything approaching or tantamount to a cover—up. it is scarcely a cover up when the chief executive and now the former party leader are being arrested and taken into custody. and question. as i say, almost nothing that humza yousaf can do about this. he can't intervene, of course, in the police inquiry. he cannot intervene in any deliberations by the fiscal service who determine whether charges are brought forward. he can't intervene. all he can do is hope and trust that this will at some point subside, and you can get back to the business of governing, which frankly, as i mentioned earlier is difficult enough. mentioned earlier is difficult enou:h. ., ~' , mentioned earlier is difficult enou:h. ., ~ , . mentioned earlier is difficult enou:h. ., , . ., enough. thank you very much for your

anal sis. enough. thank you very much for your analysis- brian — enough. thank you very much for your analysis. brian taylor, _ enough. thank you very much for your analysis. brian taylor, former - enough. thank you very much for your analysis. brian taylor, former bbc - analysis. brian taylor, former bbc scotland's political editor speaking to is there. let's go live to our political correspondent, nick eardley. this morning, we have heard from the police, saying why they have made this arrest. have we heard from nicola sturgeon as well? we have 'ust from nicola sturgeon as well? - have just had a statement through and the last few minutes, actually from her spokesperson. and the last few minutes, actually from herspokesperson. i and the last few minutes, actually from her spokesperson. iwill and the last few minutes, actually from her spokesperson. i will read it. it says that by arrangement with police scotland, nicola sturgeon has attended an interview, where she was to be arrested and questioned in relation to operation branch form, thatis relation to operation branch form, that is the operation looking into the funding of the snp. the statement adds that nicola sturgeon has consistently said she would cooperate with the investigation if asked. she continues to do so. this police operation, as you just reflected a brian taylor, has been going on for a long time. it has been quite a few weeks now since miss sturgeon's husband peter murrell and the treasurer of the snp, the former treasurer called

colin beattie, since they were arrested. it has been a few weeks. i think there had been an expectation in the party actually that this had died down a bit, and maybe there was some room to breathe, after some of the chi bolt that took place when nicola sturgeon took down and humza yousaf took over as snp leader and first —most of scotland. —— at some of that tumults. but given what is taking place this afternoon, and some of the most high—profile politicians, and the longest serving snp first minister of scotland, this is a blow to the snp, and puts those questions back in the headlines. it certainly does. and the chief constable, ian livingstone said that the actions they were taking were proportionate and necessary. elliptically, how much of an impact is this going to make? it is elliptically, how much of an impact is this going to make?— is this going to make? it is huge. i don't think— is this going to make? it is huge. i don't think we _ is this going to make? it is huge. i don't think we should _ is this going to make? it is huge. i don't think we should underplay i is this going to make? it is huge. i l don't think we should underplay the fact that, for the next few days, the only thing the snp politicians

will be asked about is the rest of their former leader, will be asked about is the rest of theirformer leader, of that will be asked about is the rest of their former leader, of that sort of iconic figure of scottish politics, and of the independence movement in scotland. i suppose the question the snp has been wrestling with over the past few weeks, since peter murrell, nicola sturgeon's husband and the party's former chief executive was arrested, is, is there anyway that humza yousaf, the new leader of the snp can move on from this? i get the sense, chatting to senior people in the snp regularly, that they were hoping that he was starting to get into a position where he could talk more about policy, about what the scottish government was trying to do, about his priorities for government. this will knock that completely of course. anytime humza is in front of a camera over the next few days, he will inevitably be asked about what has happened with his predecessor. he will be able to talk about it. it is alive in investigations. —— he won't be able to talk about it. we are also

limited in what we can say about nicola sturgeon's involvement in that. most of it will be speculative, and give it and it is live police case, there are legal reasons for that. but i don't think we should underestimate politically, this is a huge, huge moments. a huge blow to the snp. it this is a huge, huge moments. a huge blow to the sup.— blow to the snp. it certainly is. nicola sturgeon _ blow to the snp. it certainly is. nicola sturgeon quit _ blow to the snp. it certainly is. nicola sturgeon quit as - blow to the snp. it certainly is. nicola sturgeon quit as first. nicola sturgeon quit as first minister in early april. she is now the third person to be arrested as part of this operation. as you were saying there, it is going to be very difficult for the new first minister humza yousaf to move past this. can you just explain to us, or perhaps give us some context as to what has been happening within the snp? yes. absolutel . been happening within the snp? yes. absolutely. the _ been happening within the snp? jazz absolutely. the snp has been happening within the snp? 123 absolutely. the snp has been through probably the toughest time it is sad since it took power in scotland. it has been driven by division. there were a lot of questions over the party's direction, when nicola sturgeon stood down. there was a really quite bitter leadership campaign, where some of the tensions

that we've been covering for years, but were largely kept below the surface, theyjust burst out into the open. so, there have been big questions about the future of the party. there have been a big changing of the guard. stephen flynn took over as leader at westminster, which felt like a big moment as well. but both of them have been bristling with this question of how do they get back to politics. how do they talk about the stuff they are really interested in. —— wrestling with the question. about how to move on with the independence campaign and do things with the powers they have in the scottish parliament, and correct what some see as some of the mistakes that were made about nicola sturgeon's government. and the hope they had, was that this police investigation was basically going to disappear into the background for a bit. that the police had spoken to peter murrell, the former chief executive, and colin beattie, the former party treasurer. they had both been questioned but released without charge. pending further

investigations. but now that nicola sturgeon has been arrested, it will raise all those questions again about what has been going on in the party, about whether things were dealt with properly. let's all remember, it refers to funding for an independence campaign. a bit £600,000 or so that the police were looking into. there were big questions internally within the snp about where that cash had been spent. some people were concerned that money was not spent specifically on independence campaign, and that is what police have been looking into. they have not commented at all on the specifics. you wouldn't expect them do so. but what we do know this afternoon, is that it is a really big moment in scottish and british politics has happened, which is that the longer serving first minister of scotland, the longest serving snp leader and a colossal figure within scottish politics nicola sturgeon, is currently being questioned by police. she has been arrested and is being questioned about that

investigation into snp funding. this investigation into snp funding. as you say, definitely a big moment. thanks for being here to talk to us about it. now, let's go live to ian mcwhirter, a political columnist for the times. let'sjust mcwhirter, a political columnist for the times. let's just start by getting a reaction. where were you when this news broke? what did you think? ~ ., , when this news broke? what did you think? . ., , when this news broke? what did you think? ~ . , ., , when this news broke? what did you think? ~ ., .,, ., , think? where was i? i was actually filinu think? where was i? i was actually film: a think? where was i? i was actually filing a column _ think? where was i? i was actually filing a column about _ think? where was i? i was actually filing a column about humza - think? where was i? i was actuallyl filing a column about humza yousaf �*s remarks about independence. still not being at the settled will of the scottish people. so, this came as something of a surprise. because, as you probably realise, the operation branch investigation has kind of gone into a... and there has been such discontent from leading nationalists about this. the former party spin doctor murray foote said he thought this investigation had turned into a wild goose chase. and

many thought that maybe it was fading into the distance now, may be that after having arrested her husband, the party chief executive peter merrill, in april, and also the party treasurer, colin beattie, that that was it. they had had enough, and they would now go away and send a report to the procurator fiscal�*s office. clearly, that is not the case. his years. it is astonishing, because until a couple months ago, she was the first minister of scotland, and she has been arrested as a suspect in this investigation into what happened to party funds, and party funding generally in the snp. so, it is an epic result. generally in the snp. so, it is an epic result-— epic result. epic is properly the word. epic result. epic is properly the word- and _ epic result. epic is properly the word. and fancy _ epic result. epic is properly the word. and fancy that, - epic result. epic is properly the word. and fancy that, you - epic result. epic is properly the word. and fancy that, you are | word. and fancy that, you are actually writing an article about something else to do with humza yousaf, and he will be, i think, quite dismayed. because he was likely hoping to be able to move on to other types of agenda, other than

what is happening within the snp. absolutely. this is a shadow that has been cast over the whole movement, notjust the snp. these images of the police forensic tent, outside nicola sturgeon's home in utting stern were hugely damaging, and the snp has lost a great deal of electoral support inevitably since then. this is the worst possible presentational issue for a party to deal with. presentational issue for a party to dealwith. partly presentational issue for a party to deal with. partly because, as humza yousaf actually said earlier today on the lower queensborough programme when he was asked about nicola sturgeon, he said i can't say anything about it, because of the laws of contempt, and this is an ongoing police investigation. he is unable to say anything particularly intelligent about it, or to spectate about it, but it is all there. it has been coming out week after week. we saw the now infamous £110,000 motorboat that was impounded by

police, that had been lying in the driveway are peter murrell�*s home. we had the police raising the party's we had the police raising the pa rty�*s central we had the police raising the party's central office, and taking away all sorts of things. they were taking away sets of knives, apparently. they were taking away gifts, jewelry, allegedly, or not allegedly, because this was conceded later on. and it was in fact reported that they had been looking at a number of high—value items, including a fridge freezer. so, there is a kind of comic aspect to this clearly, and the whole thing has been somewhat farcical, but it is actually very very serious for the former governing party in scotland, and for humza yousaf, they've been trying to get his feet under the table in bute house. as the new first minister. and he has been knocked back at every stage. lastly, we had the collapse of this deposit return scheme, which could leave them liable to, the scottish government are liable to compensation claims for businesses

that spent money preparing for it. this week, we are back to operation branch form, and the police arresting nicola sturgeon. you are uuite riaht arresting nicola sturgeon. you are quite right in _ arresting nicola sturgeon. you are quite right in pointing _ arresting nicola sturgeon. you are quite right in pointing out - arresting nicola sturgeon. you are quite right in pointing out that - quite right in pointing out that fascinating situation, where there is very little that can be said, the police can't say very much, that snp can't say very much. join this can't say very much. but people will still be looking or remembering those images of tents erected in the nicola sturgeon home. and such is being carried out. —— journalists can't say very much. people will be making inferences. and this will undoubtedly cause the public mood to focus in on this.— focus in on this. absolutely. we can't underestimate _ focus in on this. absolutely. we can't underestimate the - focus in on this. absolutely. we - can't underestimate the seriousness of this. it has been going on now for almost two months. the national crime agency has been involved, they have been invoked because i think that police scotland were perhaps feeling that there was a lot of

criticism about this from senior people in the government, and in the scottish national party, so they are making sure that they know what they are doing. and that this is a valid ongoing investigation, which isjust to remind people, started out as an investigation into complaints made two years ago about the destination of £660,000 and funds that were raised from snp members and others, raised from snp members and others, raised for an independence referendum campaign. this campaign never happened. and a number of people complained about that, saying, what has the many been used for? i think that the snp doesn't believe this had the potential to grow into a criminal issue, a fraught issue. what they said at the time, simply, was that the money was woven through the accounts. —— a fraud issue. and since there is an ongoing campaign for a referendum

and for independence, by definition, the money was used for a legitimate purpose. this the money was used for a legitimate --urose. a ,, the money was used for a legitimate --urose. a i. .,, the money was used for a legitimate --urose. a .,, , purpose. as you say, was a sense that this had — purpose. as you say, was a sense that this had maybe _ purpose. as you say, was a sense that this had maybe gone - purpose. as you say, was a sense that this had maybe gone away, l that this had maybe gone away, because there was that the law, that period between when peter murrell and colin beattie, after they were arrested, it has been a few weeks since then? —— after that lull. after the party treasurer was arrested and released without charge, and we should remember that peter murrell was arrested and released within12 i without charge, after colin beattie, there was a long period of silence. people add spec elated, and a number of us have written about this, speculating that the third person to be arrested would be nicola sturgeon, because her name appears on the now contested 2021 snp party accounts. she is the third a signatory to it. so, there is an assumption that she would probably be dragged in for questioning. as you say, it went

into it forfive questioning. as you say, it went into it for five or six weeks, and people force that maybe it was going away now, and these things have a habit of blowing up, and there is a lot of excitement, maybe the evidence is not as strong as they thought it was, and that perhaps billy scotland was backing off a little bit. clearly, that is not the case. as i said before, she has been arrested, she has been arrested as a suspect in this investigation into party funds and fund raising. —— and that perhaps police scotland was backing off. potentially a very serious matter. it backing off. potentially a very serious matter.— backing off. potentially a very serious matter. it is. and we have heard from _ serious matter. it is. and we have heard from a _ serious matter. it is. and we have heard from a spokesperson - serious matter. it is. and we have heard from a spokesperson for. serious matter. it is. and we have . heard from a spokesperson for nicola sturgeon, who confirmed that she has attended an interview where she was to be arrested and questioned in relation to this operation. the statement also said that nicola sturgeon has consistently said she would cooperate with the investigation if asked, and continues to do so.-

investigation if asked, and continues to do so. yes, exactly. that is obviously _ continues to do so. yes, exactly. that is obviously what _ continues to do so. yes, exactly. that is obviously what one - continues to do so. yes, exactly. that is obviously what one would j that is obviously what one would expect her to say. but i can assure you that behind—the—scenes, they will be absolutely incandescent about this, and certainly, senior people in the scottish government are incandescent about it. they will be making their feelings are incandescent about it. they will be making theirfeelings known. as i said, it is notjust marie foote, a former top adviser to nicola sturgeon, noel dolan, came out and said that this whole exercise had been a circus, and it was completely over—the—top to have erected this forensic tent outside, in the french garden of nicola sturgeon's home, that this was treating a theatre of apparent criminality. —— in the front garden. of apparent wrongdoing. which was immensely damaging both to her personally and the destination of the scottish national party, and it has been a real problem for humza yousaf. and this of course, the arrest of peter

murrell took place after humza yousaf was elected as snp party leader at the beginning of april. that immediately raise questions of well, did the police wait until the snp leadership campaign was over for the dropped this bombshell on the party? and therefore was humza yousaf�*s election in some way tainted by this, because if it it happened during the election campaign, as nicola sturgeon's self—confessed continuity canada, the chosen man to take over, this could have damaged him. —— continuity candidate. there was a lot of spec elation about that. there was also speculation about the extent to which operation branch form, which has been under way for two years, whether this could have played a role in nicola sturgeon's dramatic decision to resign as snp leader on the 15th of february, because that game for most people,

out of the blue. —— that came. she was in complete charge of a party with no internal or external rivals, the opposition parties were in a flat line, and she had won various elections in a row, but she suddenly departed. she has insisted that had nothing to do with operation branch form, but you knew it was coming, and it had played no part in her decision to stand down. she said she had just had too much of it, and did not have enough in the tank left. it is all inevitably leading to speculation, and very limited of course, because this is following the laws of contempt. we course, because this is following the laws of contempt.— course, because this is following the laws of contempt. we heard from the laws of contempt. we heard from the snp as well, _ the laws of contempt. we heard from the snp as well, as _ the laws of contempt. we heard from the snp as well, as an _ the laws of contempt. we heard from the snp as well, as an snp _ the snp as well, as an snp spokesperson said these issues are subject to a life police investigation. the snp have been cooperating fully with this investigation. and will continue to do so. however, it is not appropriate to publicly address any issues what that investigation is

ongoing. so, very brief there from the snp. , . ongoing. so, very brief there from thesnp. , . the snp. yes. the police can say this, it is — the snp. yes. the police can say this, it is perfectly _ the snp. yes. the police can say this, it is perfectly true, - the snp. yes. the police can say this, it is perfectly true, that - this, it is perfectly true, that nothing should be said, and nothing should be remarked upon which could have a bearing on any future court case. after this investigation, a report will be sent to the crown office and procurator fiscal�*s office to decide whether or not the prosecution will continue. so, everybody has to be very careful of what they say. and the police and senior members, senior legal figures in the crown office have repeatedly made this point, particularly to people and social media, not to speculate on twitter, not to start saying things which could be damaging or prejudicial. but they can seep down that keep saying that, but it is impossible not to comment on something, with the former first

minister of scotland is being arrested by police as a suspect in investigation. that will have an enormous political resonance. everyone can see that it has had that. the longer it goes on, the longer it goes on, the longer it will be a political issue, because it is damaging for the government. beyond the snp, do you think it has the potential to impact scottish politics on a wider scale? idetail the potential to impact scottish politics on a wider scale? well yes, because if you _ politics on a wider scale? well yes, because if you look _ politics on a wider scale? well yes, because if you look at _ politics on a wider scale? well yes, because if you look at the - politics on a wider scale? well yes, because if you look at the recent i because if you look at the recent opinion polls, it indicates that the snp support is declining, not perhaps as rapidly as some people expected, but it is certainly falling, and the labour party are certainly confident of gaining a number of seats between ten and 20 seats, at the next general election. labour only have one seat in scotland. that is a measure of the extent to which the snp dominate scottish politics at every level.

that the labour party only has one seat left in scotland. so, this will have an impact on that. the other issue that is rapidly coming onto the agenda is the possibility of there being a by—election in rutherglen. the seat of the former snp mp there margaret ferrier, who was recently suspended from parliament for breaking lockdown regulations, and it is expected there will be a process through which they will be a recall, and she has already resigned from the party. but they will be a recall and a by—election there perhaps, in the autumn. again, this is not the kind of publicity, and these are not the kind of images that the scottish national party wants to be living under in the run—up to what will be crucial by—election. the snp have a

majority, but labour already confident of taking that rutherglen seat, and that would potentially be the beginning of an electoral rout for the scottish national party. so, these are very high stakes that are being played for here.— being played for here. plenty happening — being played for here. plenty happening on _ being played for here. plenty happening on the _ being played for here. plenty happening on the political. being played for here. plenty i happening on the political scene there. thank you for discussing that with us. iain mcwhirter, political columnist for the times. great to have you with us. how are people responding to all this? let's go live to our scotland correspondent. i wonder what the reaction has been. this is the extraordinary development. the statement from police scotland that was released just about an hour ago, in fact, they said that a 52—year—old woman has been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the scottish national party. she resigned in the middle of march and today she becomes the third

senior member of her party