SNP paid for luxury motorhome confiscated by police from home of Nicola Sturgeon’s mother-in-law

Humza Yousaf said that he only became aware that the SNP had made the purchase when he was shown a police warrant.

It detailed items that police officers wanted to seize as part of their investigation into £600,000 of party funds which went missing.

Yousaf said: "The police, of course, gave us a warrant for items that they’re looking to take into their possession.

"I can’t go into the detail of that, but, of course, the police have done the responsible thing in terms of giving us - and I, as leader, have seen the warrant - in terms of the items that they've confiscated, including the motorhome that you referenced."

He added that he only became aware of the motorhome "shortly after I became leader".

Speaking to Sky News, he said: "I only knew about the auditors resigning when I became party leader, and one of my first instructions to the party has been to make sure we get replacement auditors.

"That is going to be a challenge to meet that deadline, but I’m going to do my best, and we’re going to do our best as a party to try to meet it."

A Niesmann + Bischoff motorhome was taken from the house in Fife at the same time police searched the home of Sturgeon and Murrell.

The same model of campervan can sell for around £110,000.

The ongoing investigation has been described by SNP president Mike Russell as the party’s biggest crisis in 50 years.

Murrell was arrested by police last Wednesday and questioned for nearly 12 hours before being released without charge.

Police Scotland officers also searched the SNP’s headquarters in Edinburgh and removed boxes of items.

Last weekend, Sturgeon spoke publicly for the first time since her husband’s arrest, addressing reporters outside her home.

In a short statement, she said the last few days had been “obviously difficult” and that she would “fully co-operate” with the police investigation.