Nicola Sturgeon will likely be next arrested by police, SNP fears

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Senior SNP officials fear former leader Nicola Sturgeon may be the next figure to be arrested in Police Scotland's probe into party finances.

The SNP has been rocked by the arrest of former chief executive Peter Murrell and current treasurer Colin Beattie, both of whom were later released without charge pending an investigation further.

A senior SNP official told The Independent it was likely that Ms Sturgeon would also be arrested, given that she is one of three names suspected to be on party accounts.

Ms Sturgeon, Mr Murrell and Mr Beattie were named on financial information presented at the SNP conference last year, the source said - but added that police would like to 'cover their bases' before any arrests.

Police Scotland arrested Mr Beattie, who is also an MSP, on Tuesday as part of their investigation into the use of over £660,000 in donations, earmarked for an independence referendum.

Some MPs and party MSPs also said it was 'inevitable' that Ms Sturgeon will be questioned by police on bail in the coming weeks.

An SNP politician told The Times: "Nicola must be the next to be questioned, it's inevitable", with another saying "Obviously there's a list and Nicola's name is on it."

A third told the newspaper: "They've interviewed witnesses, and now they're on suspects . It was the small fry, and now it's the big ones - that's how the police work.

SNP leader Humza Yousaf, who was recently elected to replace Ms Sturgeon, faces calls to suspend the former leader's membership in the party as well as that of her husband and of Mr Beattie.

Following Mr Beattie's arrest on Tuesday, Mr Yousaf said he "does not believe" the party operates in a criminal manner, and resisted calls to suspend Mr. Beattie from his role as treasurer.

Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf

(Getty)

Mr. Yousaf said he wanted to discuss 'relevant matters' with Mr Beattie - who was released last night without...