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Originally Posted by arista

Peter Murrell has resigned, as SNP Chief Executive


SkyNewsHD.

The SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has resigned with immediate effect in a row over party membership.

Mr Murrell, who is married to outgoing party leader Nicola Sturgeon, said he had become a distraction to the leadership race.

The party has been forced to confirm a large drop in its membership numbers, which it had previously denied.

Mr Murrell had been set to face a vote of no confidence had he not stepped down, the BBC understands.

Two leadership candidates, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan, have questioned the independence of the election process.

And on Friday, the SNP's head of media at Holyrood, Murray Foote, resigned, saying there were "serious issues" with statements he had issued in "good faith" on behalf of party headquarters.

A National Executive Committee source told the BBC Mr Foote had been "thrown under the bus" by Peter Murrell who accepted responsibility for a misleading statement about SNP membership numbers.

Mr Murrell has been chief executive of the SNP since 2000 and married to Ms Sturgeon since 2010.

In his resignation statement he 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."

He said he had not planned to step down until after the leadership contest but recognised that he had 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," he said.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65000606
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he is dodgy af