SNP crisis as chief resigns

THE crisis engulfing the SNP deepened last night after the party chief executive was forced to quit – weeks after his wife Nicola Sturgeon announced her resignation as party leader.

Peter Murrell, who has overseen the party operation since 1999, resigned with immediate effect yesterday following claims the party lied about its membership numbers ahead of its leadership race.

Mr Murrell admitted he was responsible for misleading claims which had said the SNP had about 100,000 members, nearly 30,000 more than the correct figure of 72,186.

Labour deputy leader in Scotland, Jackie Baillie, said the wheels had ‘fallen off the SNP wagon’ with Mr Murrell’s exit.

The row erupted amid suspicions the figure was being used to over-inflate support for Humza Yousaf, seen as the preferred candidate to replace Ms Sturgeon as First Minister.

Mr Murrell said: ‘While there was no intent to mislead, I accept this was the outcome.’