NICOLA Sturgeon has told reporters she could not have anticipated the events the SNP have faced over the police investigation into the party's finances in her “worst nightmares”.

The former first minister addressed reporters in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.

With her former deputy first minster John Swinney by her side, Sturgeon confirmed that she had not been questioned by Police Scotland or spoken to First Minister Humza Yousaf since her husband Peter Murrell's arrest on April 5.

Sturgeon informed the press that even though she could not go into detail on the ongoing police investigation into the SNP finances, she wanted to address the last few weeks that have been “very, very difficult”.

She also told reporters that she believed it is “fair to say this has not been the easiest time”.

The former SNP leader added: “I’m not saying that for sympathy. It is what it is.”

She added: "Clearly events of last few weeks have been difficult, and I use this word advisably and deliberately, traumatic."

When asked whether she owed Yousaf an apology “for the state you’ve handed the part to him in”, Sturgeon said she has become “ever more convinced” that he will be a “very fine First Minister”.

She added: “I understand the view that some people might have that I knew this was all about to unfold and that’s why I walked away – but nothing could be further from the truth.

“I cannot have anticipated in my worst nightmares what would have unfolded the past few weeks”.

The former leader of the SNP said her party is “notwithstanding the real difficulties”, in “good shape” and defended the state of the SNP by saying the party she lead for eight years was “successful” and is still a party “delivering for Scotland”.

Reporters returned to questioning Sturgeon by asking if the last few weeks were “her worst nightmare”.

She said: “The last few weeks have been very, very difficult and I don’t think anyone would believe me if I said anything other than that.

“I’ve had many difficult periods in a political career that has lasted for several decades and I think you can safely say that the last few weeks have been amongst the most difficult, but it is what it is and I accept that, I accept the process and I hope to be able to stand before you and address many of these questions but really – I can’t do that for now, for reasons you understand.”

Sturgeon would not go into “any aspect” of the investigation into SNP finances, including questions concerning the campervan that was reportedly seized by police amid the investigation which was intended to be a bus used for campaigning.

When asked what was "really going on” with the SNP, Sturgeon also said she “appreciated the frustration” that comes with process, as that is how she currently feels.

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She said: “One of the frustrating aspects of that [process] is that I’m not able to give my version of what is going on just now. Hopefully, the time will come when I can do that.”

Former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie, who was arrested and released without charge last week, also told reporters on Tuesday morning in Holyrood he had no comment on whether he should be suspended by the SNP - and "being under artillery fire" in Beirut was worse than what was currently happening. 

When asked if he knew about the motorhome, which was confiscated from the home of former SNP chief Peter Murrell's mum, and whether he had signed the purchase off, he said: “No I didn’t know about it.”