Professor: The turmoil in SNP is an issue for every one of us

The turmoil at the top of the SNP and claims around the fairness of the leadership race are a matter of concern for the whole country not just party members, an expert warned yesterday.

James Mitchell, professor of public policy at Edinburgh University, said every Scot has an interest in how the party responds to the questions being raised about trust, transparency and accountability.

He said: “We all have a legitimate reason to be concerned because this is a party that is led by the first minister of Scotland.

“This isn’t a one-off issue about memberships. This has been an endemic, deeply-rooted problem for the SNP; a lack of accountability, secrecy.

“What we are seeing happening in the SNP is similar to what we are seeing happening in the government, and whoever becomes SNP leader will have to clean up the act of not just the party but of the government as well.

“And those SNP members, who have attacked and vilified anyone who has dared to ask questions should look in the mirror and ask themselves, ‘What the hell have I been doing?’”

Peter Murrell’s resignation as SNP chief executive comes nine days before the close of the contest to replace Nicola Sturgeon and the announcement of the new SNP leader.

His departure follows concerns by candidates Ash Regan and Kate Forbes at how the contest is being conducted and claims the party machine has been used to unfairly support Humza Yousaf, the self-styled continuity candidate.

Last week Robin McAlpine, former director of the pro-independence think tank Common Weal, questioned a number of decisions taken by SNP executives, including cutting the length of the contest to four weeks, forbidding candidates from spending more than £5,000 on their campaigns and seeking to exclude the media from hustings. Nicola Sturgeon insists she is not supporting any candidate but is said to have called Yousaf’s team after a TV debate while most other senior party figures have backed him.

Liz Lloyd, Sturgeon’s strategic policy and political adviser who served for years as her chief of staff, has also provided advice to Yousaf.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “This latest resignation of a top SNP figure goes to show that the wheels have fallen off the SNP wagon.

“When Scotland most needs responsible governance, the SNP has turned inward and begun to tear itself apart.

“If this is what is happening in the party, just imagine the chaos in government.

“While Scots struggle to get by, the SNP are fighting like ferrets in a sack.”

Lib Dem Scottish affairs spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “Perhaps now that the two at the top of the SNP have quit, the people of Scotland will finally learn what goes on at the heart of the party responsible for the current chaos.”

Scottish Conservative chairman and MSP Craig Hoy said: “This ongoing SNP civil war is disastrous for the whole of Scotland. How can a party that is unable to govern itself possibly govern the country?”

SNP MP Joanna Cherry, who previously claimed the SNP “party machine” is behind Yousaf in the leadership contest, said recent events proved the party is in need of a reset.