Nicola Sturgeon has today paid tribute to her husband SNP boss Peter Murrell after he announced he was standing down. The SNP chief resigned with immediate effect on Saturday morning.
Murrell - who is the husband of the outgoing First Minister - had been facing growing pressure to resign due to concerns over a police fraud probe and voting transparency concerns in the party’s leadership campaign.
Speaking outside their Glasgow home today, Sturgeon said her husband took “responsibility” over recent issues raised by the Sunday Mail. She said: “Peter has released a statement and I’ve nothing to add.
“Peter’s been a key part of the electoral success we’ve achieved in recent years. And I know there will be recognition of that across the party.”
The resignation came as reports suggested Murrell was faced with a vote of no confidence from party members. The 58-year-old had been accused of undermining the current leadership in a membership numbers row.
A statement released by the SNP bigwig read: “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.
“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. Fourteen 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. Thave 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.“
Yesterday, the SNP's head of media dramatically resigned amid the party's increasingly fraught leadership race. Murray Foote announced he had quit in response to a deepening row over the publication of SNP membership numbers.
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