What is the point of Humza Yousaf?

A seized luxury campervan, a raid on a politician’s home and two arrests. The latest twists in Police Scotland’s investigation into how the SNP spent £600,000 of IndyRef2 donations wouldn’t seem out of place in an Ian Rankin novel.

Just a year ago, Nicola Sturgeon looked invincible. Now the SNP is in freefall and Humza Yousaf, its new leader, is unable to give a clear answer when asked if his party is currently a criminal organisation. The latest arrest – of the party’s treasurer, Colin Beattie – was on the same day as Yousaf’s supposed policy relaunch day (‘not helpful,’ he said) and more developments are expected from Operation Branchform, the investigation into the missing funds for a referendum campaign that never took place. Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell was arrested (and released) earlier this month. The former first minister is now the only senior SNP official named on the accounts who has not been arrested as part of the finance probe. ‘It’s one rolling disaster movie,’ says a party figure.

‘New leadership: a fresh start for Scotland,’ promised the continuity candidate in his relaunch. He had hoped to make news by marking distance from Sturgeon, postponing several of her policies. Instead, the most memorable moment was Yousaf’s declaration that he is ‘of course surprised when one of my colleagues is arrested’. By now the public will be rather less surprised. It was certainly curious to find a £110,000 campervan parked on the driveway of Murrell’s 92-year-old mother. If it was intended for campaigning, as the SNP claims, why use her drive?

No one has yet been charged. But if the donations row goes to trial, the drama could run for years. Under current Scottish rules, serving politicians can be charged and even convicted but not have to give up their seats unless sentenced to jail for more than a year.