Come clean, Murrell
■ Regan and Forbes demand transparency over leadership race ■ SNP chief executive given ultimatum to respond by 3pm today ■ Contest may even be derailed amid fears of vote rigging
‘Transparent, fair and equitable’
ASH Regan last night threatened to completely derail the SNP leadership race amid fears of vote rigging.
In an explosive public letter, Ms Regan and rival candidate Kate Forbes demanded more ‘transparency’ in the battle to replace Nicola Sturgeon.
Their demands were sent to SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, who had refused to release details of the party’s membership and voting procedures.
But Ms Regan warned she would hold a press conference outside Holyrood today ‘if we do not receive a satisfactory response addressing our legitimate request’ by 3pm.
She has demanded access to details of the number of paid-up party members and the number of digital and postal ballot papers sent out.
The party’s national executive committee had last night reportedly been bounced into holding a special meeting today to consider the request.
Ms Regan and Ms Forbes united to tell Ms Sturgeon’s husband it was his ‘responsibility to ensure that the leadership election process is transparent, fair and equitable’.
They said refusing to make the figures public risks jeopardising the ‘trust and confidence’ of the leadership hopefuls and the SNP membership.
In their letter to Mr Murrell, they said: ‘We kindly request that you respond to this letter and share the requested information as soon as possible.
‘Your co-operation in this matter will not only demonstrate the SNP’s commitment to democratic values and principles but also help maintain a strong and united party during this leadership contest.’
A spokesman for Ms Forbes added: ‘It is standard practice for any election to be made aware of voting numbers in advance. This should be no different.’
The current SNP membership could be as low as 78,000 after an exodus of almost 47,000 members since 2019.
Party favourite Humza Yousaf belatedly revealed yesterday he had also asked for the figures to be published and ‘sought assurances this would be done as soon as possible’. But an SNP spokesman said responsibility for the leadership election ‘does not rest with any member of staff’.
The party added that candidates were told the final number of votes and turnout ‘will all be published at the conclusion of the process’.
A frustrated Pete Wishart, the SNP’s longest-serving MP, last night tweeted: ‘For goodness sake. Can someone in HQ just let everybody know the size of the leadership electorate. If not the conspiracy theories will make Trump look like Nelson Mandela...’
Labour’s shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: ‘When I ran for deputy leader of Labour, we got the entire national membership lists with postal addresses and phone numbers so we could speak with members.
‘The party then emailed the members once a week for the entire campaign on our behalf. ‘This SNP secrecy is appalling.’ Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said: ‘The fact that two of the three candidates seeking to replace Nicola Sturgeon are openly questioning their party’s internal election process is utterly astonishing and reveals the deep levels of mistrust within the SNP . . . Not only do the candidates deserve full transparency but so do the Scottish public, given that whoever wins will be First Minister, as well as SNP leader.
‘Peter Murrell and the SNP high command must urgently allay fears over the integrity of the process to elect his wife’s successor.’ Ms Regan has repeatedly raised fears that the campaign could be rigged, accusing Mr Murrell of a ‘conflict of interests’ and making a bombshell claim the party machinery is ‘bussing people in’ to support Mr Yousaf at husting events.
Further concerns were raised this week after the Mail revealed ballot papers had been sent to people who had long since quit the party. One man, who cancelled his monthly SNP direct debit last August, said he was emailed a ballot by the party’s national secretary telling him: ‘As a member of the SNP, you get to vote on who will be the party’s next leader.’
Former SNP health secretary Alex Neil urged the party to do more to stop the contest being ‘rigged’. Ms Regan has demanded an independent observer and a new ballot services firm to ensure the vote is ‘above board’. But it emerged yesterday Ms Sturgeon’s long-time chief of staff Liz Lloyd has been pulling strings in the efforts to get Mr Yousaf picked.
‘This SNP secrecy is appalling’