NICOLA Sturgeon has been photographed smiling after a driving lesson as Conservatives keep up demands for her suspension from the SNP.

It comes after the former first minister’s spokesperson refused to say whether Sturgeon plans to return to Holyrood any time soon, following the arrest and release of her husband in an investigation into SNP finances.

Last week, the SNP’s former national treasurer Colin Beattie was also arrested and subsequently released. The investigation continues.

Craig Hoy, the Scottish Tory chairman, said that Yousaf’s refusal to suspend Sturgeon “means he cannot continue to dodge legitimate questions over his former boss and mentor”.

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He added: “The new First Minister must urgently come clean about what correspondence he has had with Nicola Sturgeon, Peter Murrell and Colin Beattie over the SNP’s finances and he must now take decisive action to suspend all three from the SNP until this scandal is resolved.”

He went on to say that Sturgeon “cannot be allowed to go into hiding”.

Sturgeon, who has been taking driving lessons since stepping down as SNP leader, was not back in Holyrood last week after recess.

Instead, she worked from home – taking part in Parliament business virtually.