Nationalists’ membership hits new peak

The SNP membership has surpassed its previous peak of 120,000 in the aftermath of the Westminster walk-out, party sources suggested.

This week Nicola Sturgeon revealed 5,085 had joined the SNP in the immediatehoursaftermps left the Commons chamber. Prior to that the most recent figures for April this year put membership at 118,000. The recent influx would have taken the total to around 123,000 –beyond the 120,000 of July 2016.

The SNP is just behind the Tories, the second biggest UK party on 124,000.