Police ‘seize luxury camper van from home of Nicola Sturgeon’s mother-in-law’

Police investigating fraud claims linked to the SNP’s finances have seized a £110,000 state-of-the-art campervan, it has been reported.

It was taken from the Fife home of former chief executive Peter Murrell’s mother while officers searched the Glasgow house he lives at with Nicola Sturgeon, according to the Mail on Sunday.

The Niesmann + Bischoff vehicle can sell for around £110,000.

Mr Murrell was arrested on Wednesday by police probing the spending of around £600,000 which was earmarked for an independence campaign.

He was released later that day pending further investigation.

As well as Mr Murrell and Ms Sturgeon’s home near Glasgow, Police Scotland officers also searched the SNP’s headquarters in Edinburgh and removed boxes of items.

The ongoing investigation has been described by SNP president Mike Russell as the party’s biggest crisis in 50 years.

On Saturday, Ms Sturgeon spoke publicly for the first time since her husband’s arrest, telling reporters the last few days had been ‘obviously difficult’ and insisting she would ‘fully co-operate’ with the investigation.

She said Mr Murrell is home but ‘not able to say anything’ about his arrest while the inquiry continues.

‘Again, that’s not necessarily a matter of choice. That’s just the nature of this,’ she added.

The Glasgow Southside MSP said she intends to ‘get on with life and my job, as you would expect me to’.

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

Johnston Carmichael informed the party of the decision before Mr Murrell’s arrest.

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

Police Scotland 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 leader Douglas Ross claimed it is ‘absurd’ for Ms Sturgeon to say her decision to step down was not connected to the police investigation.

He told GB News on Sunday: ‘For her to somehow suggest and continue to suggest it had nothing to do with this ongoing inquiry I think is frankly absurd.

‘We’ve now seen the incredible sight of someone who has just been first minister inside a house when the police came to arrest her husband.

‘Now, obviously, that’s an ongoing live police inquiry and I can’t go much further into it but we have all seen the house being taped off.’

He said reports of the campervan being removed are ‘incredible’ and the story is ‘deeply damaging for Scotland’.

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