Murray Foote appointed as new SNP chief executive

The SNP has appointed its former head of communications Murray Foote as its new chief executive.

Mr Foote resigned from his previous role in March amid a row over the party's membership numbers.

He had described a newspaper report that they had dropped by 30,000 as "drivel", but it was later confirmed the figure was correct.

He replaces Peter Murrell who stood down after taking responsibility for misleading the media.

Mr Foote said: "I am delighted to take up this important role and look forward to helping build the campaign for independence, both by strengthening the SNP's headquarter functions and supporting the party's formidable organisation across Scotland."

He was previously editor-in-chief at the Daily Record and Sunday Mail newspapers from February 2014 to March 2018 before joining the SNP as the party's communications chief.

SNP business convener Kirsten Oswald MP welcomed his appointment.

She said: "Murray was an exceptional candidate in a strong field.

"His managerial experience and skills will enable him to hit the ground running in delivering for SNP members, including leading changes in governance and transparency in party headquarters."

The SNP later admitted that its membership had fallen to 72,186 from the 104,000 it had two years previously.

Mr Foote said he had issued agreed party responses to the media which "created a serious impediment" to his role.

He maintained that he had issued the responses in "good faith as a courtesy to colleagues at party HQ".

Mr Murrell and his wife, former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, have been arrested and questioned as part of the police inquiry, along with the former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie.

All were released without charge pending further investigation.

Mr Foote will take up his role from Monday of next week.

A Scottish Conservative spokesman said the SNP were "merely reshuffling the same people into different posts".

He added: "Nicola Sturgeon and her husband may be in the background but their top team are still running the show in the party under Humza Yousaf."

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: "Presented with the chance of a fresh start for the SNP after years of secrecy, Humza Yousaf has instead appointed Murray Foote as the successor to the beleaguered Peter Murrell.

"This is just the latest continuity candidate to be brought back by Humza Yousaf who is desperately trying to get the band back together ahead of what could be their farewell tour."