Police ‘seize high-end campervan in SNP finances probe’

A luxury campervan has reportedly been seized by police investigating the SNP’s finances.

A Niesmann + Bischoff motorhome was taken from a house in Fife at the same time police searched the home of Nicola Sturgeon and her husband, Peter Murrell, according to the Mail on Sunday.

The same model of campervan can sell for around £110,000.

The SNP’s former chief executive and Nicola Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell was arrested on Wednesday before being released without charge in connection with an investigation into the funding and finances of the party.

As well as Mr Murrell and Ms Sturgeon’s home near Glasgow, the SNP Headquarters in Edinburgh and the former first minister’s home in Glasgow were among properties searched by officers.

Mike Russell, the SNP president and a former minister, described the ongoing investigation as the party’s biggest crisis in 50 years.

On Saturday, Ms Sturgeon spoke publicly for the first time since her husband’s arrest, addressing reporters outside her Uddingston home.

In a short statement, she said she intends to “get on with life and my job” and that she would “fully co-operate” with the police investigation.

She said: “There’s obviously nothing I can say about the ongoing investigation, as much as there are things I might want to say, I’m not able to do so.

“Other than that, as has been the case, there will continue to be full cooperation.

“The last few days have been obviously difficult, quite traumatic at times, but I understand that is part of a process.”

Earlier, it emerged that the accountancy firm which had audited the SNP’s books for more than a decade had resigned.

An party spokesperson said: “We can confirm that Johnston Carmichael will not be providing audit services to the SNP this year.

“The national treasurer is undertaking a tendering process for alternative provision, and we have advised the Electoral Commission of that position”.

The party’s treasurer is now seeking another auditor in order to comply with Electoral Commission rules.

Police Scotland have said their investigation is ongoing.

An SNP spokesman said: “It would not be appropriate to comment on any live police investigation.

“The SNP has been co-operating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so.”

Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said: “The investigation into the SNP’s murky finances grows more surreal by the day.

“The sight of a luxury motorhome being seized would be almost comic, were the issue not so serious.

“Senior party figures, including Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon, must come clean about what they knew and when in relation to the party’s finances – and what any missing money was spent on.

“The public have a right to know the truth and do not want this investigation to be shrouded in SNP secrecy.

“This is clearly a very serious case which the police are treating with the importance it merits.”