THE SNP internal body has asked Peter Murrell to confirm his exit date as chief executive by the end of the day - or face a no confidence motion.

The National understands several members of the National Executive Committee have spoken to Murrell about a committment from him for when he will leave his internal role.

Murrell has been chief executive of the SNP for more than 20 years.

One member of the NEC described the news as "movement" on the agreed position of members that it is time for Murrell to go and internal politics to change.

One senior member of the NEC told The Herald: “We have the numbers. There's not a hope in hell that Peter can survive a no confidence motion.”

READ MORE: Who is Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell?

The news comes after Murray Foote, former editor of the Daily Record, announced he was leaving his role after being given incorrect SNP membership numbers to give to the media by party HQ.

The SNP released membership figures on Thursday, confirming that there are 72,186 paid-up members voting in the leadership contest. 

Advisors to Regan are weighing up legal action to pause the SNP leadership race amid fears it would annoy SNP members who want to see the race completed according to schedule.

The National:

The Herald source further added: “In all honesty, he's eight years too late. He should have resigned when Nicola became leader and he should have most certainly announced the departure date when Nicola resigned a few weeks ago. 

“When you're a staff member, and you're at the epicentre of the story, time and time again, you need to understand that it's time to go." 

Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser once accused Murrell of perjury after he was alleged to have given a “false statement” under oath at a Holyrood committee.

The committee was investigating the Scottish Government’s handling of sexual misconduct allegations made against former First Minister Alex Salmond.

More recently he has been under fire for loaning the SNP more than £100,000 of his own money “to assist with cash flow after the Holyrood election”.

Opposition parties took umbrage at the transaction, claiming that it was inappropriate for the First Minister’s husband to be lending such a large sum of money to the party.

There has also been controversy surrounding the use of £600,000 raised by activists for the party, who believed that money was ringfenced for a second independence referendum.

It has been alleged that the money has been spent elsewhere, prompting an ongoing Police Scotland investigation and the resignation of the national treasurer of the party, Douglas Chapman MP, in 2021.

In January, an SNP spokesperson said that he will be remaining in post.