SNP chief executive Peter Murrell resigns over membership row

The SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has resigned with immediate effect in a row over party membership.

Mr Murrell, who is married to outgoing party leader Nicola Sturgeon, said he had become a distraction to the leadership campaign.

The party has been forced to confirm a large drop in its membership numbers, which it had previously denied.

Two leadership candidates have also questioned the independence of the election process.

On Friday, the SNP's head of media at Holyrood, Murray Foote, resigned, saying there were "serious issues" with statements he had issued in "good faith" on behalf of party headquarters.

Mr Murrell has been chief executive of the SNP since 2000 and married to Ms Sturgeon since 2010.

In his resignation statement he said: "Responsibility for the SNP's responses to media queries about our membership number lies with me as chief executive.

"While there was no intent to mislead, I accept that this has been the outcome.

"I have therefore decided to confirm my intention to step down as chief executive with immediate effect."

He said he had not planned to step down until after the leadership contest but recognised that he had become "a distraction from the campaign".

"I have concluded that I should stand down now, so the party can focus fully on issues about Scotland's future," he added.

"The election contest is being run by the National Secretary and I have had no role in it at any point."

He added: "I have worked for independence all my life and will continue to do so, albeit in a different capacity, until it is achieved - and I do firmly believe that independence is now closer than ever."

In December last year it was confirmed that Mr Murrell had given gave a loan of more than £100,000 to the SNP to help it out with a "cash flow" issue after the last election.

He loaned the party £107,620 in June 2021. The SNP had repaid about half of the money by October of that year.

An SNP spokesman said the loan was a "personal contribution made by the chief executive to assist with cash flow after the Holyrood election".