SNP fears members are quitting in droves after crisis

Police dismantle screens at Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell’s house

The SNP is pleading with members not to turn their backs on the party, as senior figures are concerned that activists will quit the party as a result of the crisis. Meanwhile, Kate Forbes has laid out an urgent plan to fix the party, calling on new SNP leader Humza Yousaf to urgently deliver on his promises to improve transparency in the party. She suggested he start with a report into why the party’s auditors quit, saying: “Sunlight is the best disinfectant”.

This comes just days after the police arrested former chief executive Peter Murrell, before releasing him 11 hours later.

Mr Murrell – who is married to former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon – was arrested as part of an investigation into the finances of the SNP.

The home shared by Mr Murrell and Ms Sturgeon was searched by police last week.

Ms Forbes – who narrowly lost the leadership race to Humza Yousaf – pleaded with members not to walk away from the party despite the “gale force winds” rocking the party.

She admitted that lifelong nationalists had been left “shocked, confused and hurt” by the scandal engulfing the party.

Writing a column for The National, the former Scottish finance secretary issued a “plea to fellow members” to “stay the course”.

She said: “As gale-force winds batter the ship, this is a call for all hands on deck,” she said. “If you are a party member thinking of resigning, please don’t.

“If you’re scunnered at what’s unfolding, please stay. If you’ve recently left the party, as 50,000 people reportedly have in recent years, think of rejoining.

“This party’s historic success was secured by ordinary members doing extraordinary things in every part of the country.

“And the most extraordinary thing of them all must be to win independence. To do that, we need you.”

Ms Forbes admitted that every few days “a new revelation renews the sense of astonishment”, adding: “The shock, confusion and hurt is echoed by almost every member and supporter I’ve met.

“Members of 50 years and members of five months are united by confusion as to what is happening.

“The impact is reverberating through the party. I spoke to one local member, who told me she’d sacrificially donated to the party for decades as part of her contribution to independence.

“Another branch officer argued he’d always followed due process so as never to bring the party into disrepute. Both feel a sense of loss and bewilderment.”

The SNP is currently subject to a police investigation into whether £600,000 earmarked for independence campaigning was diverted elsewhere in 2021.

Mr Murrell was arrested on Wednesday and released without charge 11 hours later as part of an investigation into the funding and finances of the SNP.

There has been a heavy police presence outside the home Mrs Sturgeon shares with her husband this week, as well as a major police presence at the SNP’s headquarters in Edinburgh.

Mr Murrell – who had been chief executive since 2000 – stepped down earlier this year for unrelated reasons.

He said he had planned to step down after the SNP leadership contest had concluded but was doing so earlier than planned because his “future has become a distraction from the campaign”.

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