UK: Scottish government in crisis

Personnel turbulence, inconsistencies surrounding party finances and police investigations are keeping the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) in suspense. “In my 50 years with the party, this is the biggest and most challenging crisis we have ever faced,” current party leader Mike Russell told Scottish newspaper The Herald.

Former Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon – in office until two weeks ago – told reporters in front of her house near Glasgow on Saturday that the past few days had “of course been difficult”, but that she wanted to continue with her job and look ahead. Her husband Peter Murrell, once CFO of the SNP and predecessor to Russell, was ousted from office and was arrested at times this week and questioned by police for around 12 hours. Investigators later set up a tent in front of the couple’s home and searched the property.

After more than eight years in office, Sturgeon surprisingly announced her resignation from the leadership of the party and government in February. In the election campaign that followed, the party presented itself as divided and sometimes chaotic. Now the 37-year-old Humza Yousaf is at the helm, who is considered Sturgeon’s preferred candidate.

The ruling SNP’s main goal is to detach Scotland from the UK and bring it back into the EU as an independent country. However, with London blocking a new referendum, the road is rocky. “I don’t think we can achieve independence right now,” SNP President Russell said in an interview. It is necessary to form a new independence movement and promote the goal in a coordinated manner. “That’s achievable,” Russell said. It is necessary to find a way.