SNP chief executive has reduced election role

The SNP’S chief executive will reportedly not be responsible for dealing with key roles central to the party’s planning for this year’s general election. Foote, who was appointed last August, will not be in charge of the reporting of campaign expenditure, as well as candidate nominations and ballot papers, the Herald has reported.

The tasks had all been handed by his predecessor as chief executive, Peter Murrell.

Mr Foote previously worked as the SNP’S head of communications, but was forced to resign from that role in March last year amid a row over the party's membership numbers.

His resignation had come after a reported drop of 30,000 in SNP membership numbers, which Mr Foote had described as “drivel”, was later confirmed to be correct.

The issue also prompted the resignation of Mr Murrell after more than 20 years as chief executive. He said at the time he had become a distraction in the leadership contest involving Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan.

Mr Murrell had been registered with the Electoral Commission as holding the posts of nominating officer and campaigns officer during his time as chief executive – two of the SNP’S four key officer roles.

However, Mr Foote will not have any of the roles under the existing party structure. The two other party roles are leader and treasurer, held by Mr Yousaf and Stuart Mcdonald respectively.

An SNP source said: “The Murray Foote situation is unusual. In fact it’s completely bloody odd. It’s not something that was done historically. Maybe he’s trying to stay semi-detached?”