Controlling Murrell must resign now

For over a decade the SNP has been able to bat off any criticism by pointing to its stellar record of electoral success.

However, concerns over the internall governance of Scotland’s ruling party can now no longer be ignored.

Sex pest Jordan Linden has been accusedd of forcing himself on another SNP memberr and sexually harassing them for years.

A new complaint was made to SNP HQQ about its ex-North Lanarkshire Councill leader almost a month ago but no actionn appears to have been taken and he remains a serving councillor.

SNP CEO Peter Murrell – the husband off First Minister Nicola Sturgeon – is accusedd of being more concerned with closing ranksks than supporting alleged victims.

The Nats’ hierarchy rubbished our storyy when we first broke the allegations off Linden’s troubling behaviour last year. Yet within days he resigned as council leader.

When we approached the party over claims £600,000 of independence donations had been misappropriated, we were similarly palmed off. A full-blown fraud investigation is now under way.

If concerns over how the SNP is run only impacted party members it would be a matter for them. But Murrell now appears to be in sole control of the process to install Scotland’s next first minister.

It is unacceptable on every level and Murrell should step down from his role.

Even leadership candidate Humza Yousaf accepts a “refresh” is needed on internal governance of the SNP.

A succession of polls suggest that message could be delivered in devastating fashion by voters at the next election unless things change fast.