The party began to implode.

We had an extraordinary sequence of events, the fun garden of the former First Ministers,

hiding us in home, the police erected a forensics tent like something out of line of duty

and surrounded it with police cars and can policemen standing there?

Peter Moral, husband and the rest of that day, he was questioned for 11 hours, released

without charge. The police then raided the SMP's headquarters in Edinburgh

and took away boxes and boxes of material.

It was a hugely public exercise. It was something you might expect out of crime fiction

or something out of American politics.

Hello, welcome back to the Brendan O'Neill show with me, Brendan O'Neill

and my special guest this week, Ian McQuirter. Ian, welcome to the show.

Hi, Brendan.

So Ian, let's talk about Scotland.

You've been writing about Scotland and Scottish politics for a very long time in the herald,

in the times, in the spectator, and of course in your books on the campaign for Scottish independence.

So I'm sure people will be keen to hear your thoughts on what the hell is going on up there.

So across the UK and across the world, I'm sure people are just watching with shock

at what is happening in Scotland. We've seen this investigation into the SMP,

the Scottish National Party's fundraising into the use and possible misuse of party funds.

We've seen top party members being arrested, including Nicola Sturgeon's husband.

We've seen tents being erected in the front garden of Nicola Sturgeon's home.

There's all sorts of talk about motor homes and more recently fridge freezers.

...