Murdo Fraser MSP is urging SNP politicians in Perth and North Perthshire to back a call to have former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon suspended from the party.
This comes following the recent arrest of the former First Minister, who was later released without charge pending further investigation.
The Scottish Conservatives have urged current First Minister Humza Yousaf to follow the SNP’s long-standing precedent and suspend his predecessor following her arrest.
Their calls have been backed by politicians from across the political spectrum, including SNP MSPs Ash Regan and Michelle Thomson, who herself lost the SNP whip in 2015, and MP Angus MacNeil.
Mr Fraser is urging local SNP MP Pete Wishart and MSP John Swinney to say whether they share their colleagues’ view that Nicola Sturgeon should be suspended. He says Humza Yousaf has shown himself to be a weak leader by failing to do so.
Commenting, Murdo Fraser MSP said: “Given the precedent set by the SNP in previous cases when members have been under police investigation, Nicola Sturgeon should have been suspended immediately.
“Humza Yousaf has shown himself up to be a weak leader by refusing to do so. Even SNP MSPs like Michelle Thomson – who lost the whip herself when under investigation – are urging the First Minister to suspend his predecessor.
“That is why I am now calling on local SNP politicians to reveal if they back their colleagues’ calls for Nicola Sturgeon to be suspended.
“Local people have a right to know where their local SNP representatives stand on this.”
