First Minister Humza Yousaf today rejected a request for a parliamentary statement on the SNP finance scandal.
At FMQs, Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross urged the SNP to be transparent and said there were “legitimate questions” that the Scottish public deserve answers to.
But Humza Yousaf dodged the question of a parliamentary statement, which would allow opposition MSPs to question the First Minister.
Douglas Ross also raised sentencing guidelines brought in under the SNP Government which allow criminals under the age of 25 to dodge jail.
He demanded that the SNP change sentencing guidelines so that every rapist goes to jail.
On the SNP finances, Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross said: “The First Minister is now the SNP’s treasurer.
“So while this is still a party matter, it is also now a government matter if the First Minister is compromised, if his hands are tied, if the party of government is about to go bankrupt, or if he himself may be involved in the police investigation.
“There are legitimate questions that the Scottish public deserve answers to.
“Rules of the Scottish Parliament prevent me from asking crucial questions about the scandal over the SNP’s finances.
“Humza Yousaf must be transparent and bring forward a parliamentary statement so he can face scrutiny on the financial scandal engulfing the party of government in Scotland.
“The SNP’s secret Scotland must end. Humza Yousaf cannot continue to cover up the truth and hush up scandals, as his predecessors did.”
On sentencing guidelines, Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross said: “The SNP must abandon the guidelines they allowed to be introduced that give criminals under the age of 25 more lenient sentences.
“The very worst criminals belong in jail but right now, many of them are avoiding a prison sentence because of the sentencing guidelines.
“The problem is not any one judge’s decision – it is the system.
“Humza Yousaf must answer why it is acceptable in SNP-run Scotland for any rapist to avoid jail?
“The SNP’s justice system is broken. The First Minister should focus on fixing it.”