Nicola SturgeonHusband Peter Murrell has stepped down as CEO. SNPs It had immediate effect in calls for his resignation from within the party – rivals fighting it out to replace her as leader.
Murrell announced his resignation Saturday morning after a group of members of the SNP’s ruling party launched a bid to remove him.
A majority of members of the ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) were reportedly ready to support a motion of no confidence if the chief executive did not voluntarily go.
The party is facing political turmoil after Nicola Sturgeon announced his intention to step down as prime minister and SNP leader earlier this year.
His resignation follows the resignation of SNP’s head of media Murray Foote on Friday. number of party members.
Nicola Sturgeon’s Husband Peter Murrell Steps Down as SNP CEO
Mr. Murrell has served as CEO of SNP for the past 20 years.
Foote said he responded to the media with “serious problems” after speaking with party headquarters, but later determined that his role was “seriously impaired.”
He was previously accused by Murrell of inadvertently providing fake membership numbers to journalists after being told by Murrell to deny claims that SNP’s membership numbers had dropped by 30,000 as “inaccurate” and “silly.” rice field.
On Thursday, the party said it had 72,186 members as of February 15 this year, down from 103,884 in 2021.
The figures came after the party was accused of lacking integrity and transparency.
There were also multiple protests by SNP members that a leadership contest to determine Sturgeon’s successor had been overseen by her own husband.
Shortly before Murrell announced his resignation, a senior member of the SNP’s governing body told Sky News:
Party members have questioned the role Murrell will play in the election, given his wife’s status as party leader, with a new leader due to be elected on March 27.
Murrell has been the party’s chief executive for more than 20 years.
“As Chief Executive Officer, I am responsible for SNP’s response to media inquiries regarding membership numbers,” Murrell said in a statement.
“It was not my intention to be misleading, but I admit that this was the result.
Therefore, I have decided to confirm my intention to step down as Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect.
“I was not going to confirm this decision until after the leadership election.
“However, my future has gotten in the way of the campaign, and I have concluded that I should resign now so that the party can concentrate fully on matters concerning the future of Scotland.
“The campaign is run by the Secretary of State and I was not involved at any point.
“I am immensely proud of what has been achieved during my time as CEO and the role I have played in ensuring the electoral success the party has enjoyed for almost two decades.
Winning the 2014 national election is a testament to the skill of the dedicated and talented HQ team I have been privileged to lead.
“They are committed to the party and the independence movement and I am grateful to them.
“I have worked for independence all my life and will continue to do so until it is achieved, albeit in different positions. believe.”
SNP is in political turmoil after Nicola Sturgeon’s shock resignation last month
Leadership candidate Ash Regan in a letter to Sturgeon’s husband, SNP CEO and Sturgeon’s husband, Peter Murrell (pictured with his wife, Sturgeon) Mr. The process is transparent, fair and impartial.”
Those who ran to replace Nicola Sturgeon immediately welcomed the news.
Three candidates, Kate Forbes, Ash Regan and Humza Yousaf, are looking to become the next supporters of Scottish independence.
Voting is already underway and will close at 12pm on March 27th.
SNP leader candidate Kate Forbes today acknowledged “extraordinary turmoil” within her party.
On Saturday, Forbes issued an open letter to SNP members who had not yet voted.
However, she herself has been plagued with problems after telling the media that she would have voted against allowing gay marriage, citing her conservative religious beliefs.
She also believes that being unmarried and having children is “wrong”.
Forbes later apologized and said he would not try to overturn the law he had already won.
She told party members on Saturday:
“If anyone doubts that this has to be a change election for the SNP, recent events and my resignation confirm the core message of my campaign. I will not cut it.”
She continued: “I love SNP and am passionate about making Scotland an independent, fair and prosperous nation.
“A few years ago, a scandal rocked SNP and we were asked to raise budgets and submit on hours notice.
“I did it for my party and the people of this country. It’s a sign of who I am. I don’t avoid hard times.
“Instead, we will try our best to find a solution.
Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan all want to be SNP’s next leader.
“I have great respect for the other two candidates, but he is the only one who can truly make a difference as prime minister.”
Forbes, who is on maternity leave from her government role as Secretary of the Treasury, has vowed to reform the party and promise an independent audit of party members and finances.
One of the race’s other candidates, Ash Regan, 49, tweeted about reports that NEC members were calling for Murrell to step down.
Upon hearing the news of his resignation, she said: “Eight years ago, it was unacceptable to have a party leader’s husband as CEO.
“It is encouraging to see the party’s democratic foundations asserting their legitimate function.
“SNP can get through this as long as we stay true to our roots and stand by the values of our members.
“Accountability, transparency, modernity and accessibility are our foundations.
“Every time you believe in your ability to overcome a challenge, you can look up to your guiding light and know your potential is limitless. lead together.
she wrote a letter before
Leader candidate Humza Yousaf, who is currently serving as cabinet secretary for health and social welfare, addressed Hut’s resignation on Friday.
He said Foote “has been outstanding since joining the SNP media team” and “will be greatly missed.”
Yousaf added: The new party leadership should bring a new approach to running the headquarters. ”
he hit the headlines this week An awkward gaffe saw him ask a female Ukrainian refugee where ‘all the men’ were – It was just said that they were all fighting with Russia.
this is breaking news Story is being updated.
