ASH Regan has written to SNP chief executive Peter Murrell asking him to release key information about the party’s membership and the leadership ballot.
Regan, in a letter which was sent with the backing of Kate Forbes’s campaign team, said that the information was “necessary for ensuring a fair and transparent leadership election”.
The two campaigns asked Murrell to detail:
- The total number of paid-up members currently within the SNP.
- The number of digital voting papers that have been sent out to members.
- The number of physical postal voting papers that have been issued.
#OpenLetter to @PeterMurrell CEO @theSNP regarding transparency in the #SNPLeadershipElection.
— Ash Regan MSP (@AshReganSNP) March 15, 2023
In the interest of transparency and fairness, ALL campaigns must get clarity on the number of SNP members voting in this contest.
Ash Regan MSP pic.twitter.com/C88DTpx0Og
Regan wrote: “As the chief executive officer of the SNP, it is your responsibility to ensure that the leadership election process is transparent, fair, and equitable. Providing this information is crucial to fostering trust and confidence among the candidates, their campaign teams, and the party members who are participating in the election.
“We kindly request that you respond to this letter and share the requested information as soon as possible. Your cooperation in this matter will not only demonstrate the SNP's commitment to democratic values and principles but also help maintain a strong and united party during this leadership contest.”
Regan's campaign team has issued an ultimatum to the SNP leadership, saying they will hold a press conference outside Holyrood at 3pm on Thursday if a "satisfactory response addressing our legitimate request" has not been received by then.
Michelle Thomson, Forbes’s campaign manager, said: “We have been notified of the letter and the request and are happy to lend our support to that request."
Humza Yousaf's campaign has also urged the SNP chief to release the figures.
Neil Gray, who is running Yousaf's campaign, said: "Yesterday, Humza's campaign team also asked for the figures to be published and sought assurances this would be done as soon as possible."
The letter comes with the SNP facing growing pressure to release its membership figures, including from former Westminster leader Ian Blackford.
The MP said over the weekend: “It is important that we have an open contest. It would be better if we know how many people have voted and what percentage of the membership that represents.”
A source within Regan’s campaign previously told The National not having the number made it harder to campaign as they were unable to set accurate targets of the number of members they should contact.
The source said: “We would have enjoyed more up front transparency. Everybody is entitled to that.
“Surely when we find out the result we’re going to find out the electorate.”
SNP accounts published by the Electoral Commission in August 2022 stated that the party had 103,884 members in December 2021.
There has been speculation that the number has fallen since then, with numbers including 65,000 and 78,000 having been pitched.
An SNP spokesperson said: "Candidates have already been made aware that responsibility for the leadership election does not rest with any member of staff."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel