We are past the time of judging what a woman does based on what happens to her husband

Yousaf slams call to ban Sturgeon

- PAUL HUTCHEON

HUMZA Yousaf yesterday hit back at calls for Nicola Sturgeon to be suspended from the SNP, claiming she should not be judged over the arrest of her husband Peter Murrell.

The First Minister defended his predecessor Sturgeon and, quizzed over former party CEO Murrell being questioned by police, he said: "We are far past the time of judging what a woman does based on what happens to her husband.

The SNP is in crisis over a police investigation into how more than £600,000 of IndyRef2 donations were spent.

Murrell, who was SNP chief executive at the time, was arrested and released without charge by police as they carried out searches of the Glasgow home he shares with Sturgeon and the SNP's HQ in Edinburgh.

Sturgeon is also under fire after a video of a party meeting held online emerged. It showed her claim that the party's finances were in good health just weeks before police launched their probe.

The MSP for Glasgow Southside will not visit the Scottish Parliament in person this week but will contribute to proceedings remotely.

Her spokesman said: "To ensure the focus is on the new First Minister setting out his priorities, Ms Sturgeon has always intended to participate remotely and intends to return to Holyrood in the near future."