SNP’s chief executive and Nicola Sturgeon’s husband, has resigned
Peter Murrell, the SNP’s chief executive and Nicola Sturgeon’s husband, has resigned with immediate effect.
Reports had suggested members of the SNP’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) threatened a vote of no confidence in him. It follows the departure of the SNP media chief Murray Foote, who left on Friday amid a row over the party’s membership numbers.
Mr Murrell was facing demands from members of the party’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) to announce a date for his departure.
On Saturday, the Herald newspaper reported an unnamed senior member of the NEC who said: “We have the numbers. There’s not a hope in hell that Peter can survive a no confidence motion.”
The newspaper said that rebel NEC members were calling for Mr Murrell to set a date for his departure by the end of Saturday.
Mr Murrell has been the party’s chief executive for more than 20 years.
Mislead
In a statement, Mr Murrell said: “Responsibility for the SNP’s responses to media queries about our membership number lies with me as chief executive. While there was no intent to mislead, I accept that this has been the outcome. I have therefore decided to confirm my intention to step down as chief executive with immediate effect.
“I had not planned to confirm this decision until after the leadership election.
“However as my future has become a distraction from the campaign I have concluded that I should stand down now, so the party can focus fully on issues about Scotland’s future.
“The election contest is being run by the National Secretary and I have had no role in it at any point.”
He continued: “I am very proud of what has been achieved in my time as chief executive and of the part I have played in securing the electoral success the party has enjoyed over almost two decades.
“14 national election wins is testament to the skills of the dedicated and talented HQ team that I have been privileged to lead.
“They give their all to the party and the independence cause and I thank them for it.
“I have worked for independence all my life and will continue to do so, albeit in a different capacity, until it is achieved – and I do firmly believe that independence is now closer than ever.”
Membership
SNP media chief Murray Foote left on Friday amid a row over the party’s membership numbers.
Mr Foote said that after speaking to the party’s HQ, he had issued responses to the media which had “serious issues” and he later decided there was a “serious impediment” to his role.
On Thursday, the party revealed membership as of February 15 this year was 72,186, having fallen from 103,884 in 2021.
This corroborated a story in the Sunday Mail in February around the SNP losing 30,000 members, something Mr Foote had strongly denied at the time.
Integrity
This week, two of the candidates to replace Ms Sturgeon, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan, raised concerns about the integrity of the election.
However Health Secretary Humza Yousaf, widely viewed as the favourite for the top job among the party hierarchy, dismissed these as “baseless smears”.
Ms Regan said: “Eight years ago was the point where it was unacceptable to have the husband of the party leader as the CEO.
“I am encouraged to see the democratic foundations of the party now asserting their rightful function.
“The SNP is more than capable of surviving this, as long as we stick true to our roots, and we uphold the values of our members.”
Earlier, SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes had acknowledged “extraordinary turmoil” in the party.
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When I heard that dodgy interview with Nicola’s likely successor on radio 4’s 6pm news last night I thought he would have to!…
The SNP higher ups have gone from leading a grassroots, pro Scotland party to an elitist group who see themselves as the equals to Nordic, Canada, NZ and Australia’s goverments. Their high handed approach necessitates sleaze and dodgy deals if there’s any faltering. The only problem is that they aren’t independent yet. It’s hard to distinguish between Tony Blair, Rishi Sunak, David Cameron, Sir Keir, Justin Trudeau, Jacinda Ardern, Nicola Sturgeon, Adam Price and Humza Yousaf if you just read transcripts of their speeches. It’s almost like there is some school they all go to to learn talking points. Maybe… Read more »
Wings over Scotland definitely worth a read atm.Super comments as well.
Blimey, thanks for the introduction, I’ll drop in again…
Those that have followed Wings over Scotland for some time knew these resignations were on the cards, because of the Alex Salmond stitch up & the missing £600,000 & the gender laws and view & the bullying of Joana Cherry and others.
You actually believe the Man from the Bath Chair and his acolytes?
*This* is by far more worthwhile pro-Scottish indy blog:
Wee Ginger Dug « Biting the hand of Project Fear (wordpress.com)
You must be joking!
Hello Welsh Sion I know you from WGD. I used to like the articles on it but it just became a clique and Paul’s articles are just anti WM he let NS and her cohorts off the hook for eight years. I don’t need Paul to tell me WM policies are bad for Scotland I know that, but he tells me the same stuff every second day. Look at this website, feel the energy in YOUR movement. It’s a joy to come here rather than the dismal stuff we wade through in Scotland because nobody put Sturgeon under the microscope.… Read more »
Definitely worth noting that this fiasco in Scotland started due to the Gender Recognition Reform bill forced upon the SNP by the Green Party creeps.
GRR may be the point at which the divisions became public but the poison was already in the system maybe in the wake of the Brexit vote where Scotland voted to Remain. That influx of members post the failed indy referendum might also have been a factor drawing in some of the more avantgarde elements who had little or no time for independence but needed a vehicle for their own narrow agendas. All water under the bridge now. The manipulators and schemers saw their chance, fed those promoting divisive issues and bled the energy out of the indy campaign. Wales… Read more »
Kate Forbes was financed by CARE, an anti abortion, anti LGBT+ rights and anti sex education in schools, christian lobby group, and since 2010 they have funded internship programmes for over 20 Westminster mp’s just the sort of groups that shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near politics