SNP’s transparency pledge after lying over party numbers

THE SNP’s ruling body was last night forced to promise to be more transparent following revelations in The Mail on Sunday that the party lied about its true membership numbers ahead of the leadership race.

The National Executive Committee pledged to make the party more accountable to the Press and public – even if it meant calling in external auditors.

It comes after this newspaper revealed the SNP had around 30,000 fewer members than it had claimed at the start of the leadership election.

Critics feared the bogus numbers were being used by the SNP ‘party machine’ to inflate support for Humza Yousaf, seen as the establishment’s preferred candidate to take over as First Minister.

But during the NEC’s first meeting since Humza Yousaf’s election, it yesterday agreed that he, Mike Russell and Kirsten Oswald would appoint an acting chief executive following Peter Murrell’s resignation over membership numbers.

Over the coming weeks, it will also agree on a new process to appoint someone in the position permanently. Mr

Yousaf last night said: ‘I was delighted to attend my first NEC meeting as the new party leader and to answer questions from those elected by the party to take forward our affairs.

‘Whilst of course the leadership election was run efficiently and securely by an external contractor under the supervision of the National Secretary, it is clear that the party has lessons to learn from some issues, including the question of membership numbers.

‘The important Governance Review established by the Deputy Leader Keith Brown reported in 2021 and we now need to draw on its work, utilise the expertise within the party and seek external input in order to ensure best practice in governance and transparency.’ He added: ‘The SNP has a vibrant internal democracy which encourages debate and provides a broad tent for the respectful exchange of differing views. We need to reflect that in our internal structures whilst also ensuring that we have the confidence, not just of all our members, but of Scotland as well.’

Mr Yousaf’s assurances to the party faithful follow a chaotic leadership race. The MoS’s revelation about membership numbers sparked the resignation of the SNP’s head of Press Murray Foote, who was shortly followed out the door by chief executive – and Nicola Sturgeon’s husband – Peter Murrell. Mr Murrell admitted he was responsible for the ‘misleading’ claims about membership figures.

His bombshell departure also came amid a continuing police probe into how independence campaign donations have been handled, as well as a personal donation of £107,000 to the party during a cash crisis. The

NEC also discussed the possibility of a recall petition in Rutherglen and Hamilton West as MP Margaret Ferrier waits to hear if she will be suspended from the House of Commons for breaching Covid rules.

A memo released after the event read that the SNP would ‘prepare for a vigorous contest’

‘It is clear the party has lessons to learn’

should a by-election for Ms Ferrier’s seat take place.

Westminster’s standards committee last week recommended that 62-year-old Ms Ferrier receive a maximum 30-day suspension.

She pleaded guilty last year at Glasgow Sheriff Court to culpably and recklessly exposing the public to the risk of infection, illness and death.

She has sat as an independent since being suspended by the SNP over the matter.