Thomson crisis was not easy for anyone
Sturgeon: Probe was tough on MP and SNP
FORMER SNP MP Michelle Thomson getting caught up in a fraud probe was not easy on her or the party, Nicola Sturgeon said yesterday.
Thomson withdrew from the SNP whip in 2015 during a police inquiry into mortgage fraud allegations.
She said she was given no choice and asked for Sturgeon to apologise over the party’s handling of the matter.
The former Edinburgh West MP learned last week that she will not face court proceedings. Prosecutors said there was an absence of sufficient credible and reliable evidence.
The First Minister told the BBC yesterday: “I regret very much that we were confronted with a situation where one of our newly elected MPs was facing serious allegations.
“It wasn’t a situation of my making, it wasn’t a situation, clearly, I would have chosen to be in. The investigation that took place was not easy for Michelle Thomson and it wouldn’t have been easy for anyone in that situation.
“But I think people would also appreciate that it wasn’t a particularly easy situation for the party either.
“Michelle is now in the position where she can put this behind her. We can now look forward and have a discussion directly with her.”
Thomson, who always denied any wrongdoing, said she got “no support” at a “frightening, disturbing and alarming” time and had been told by SNP business convener Derek Mackay she would need to resign the whip.
Thomson stood down as an independent MP in June.