Police guard the home of Nicola Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell last week. Photo: Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images
SNP activists quit the party en masse after dramatic police raids on Nicola Sturgeon's home and her husband's arrest, senior nationalists fear as Kate Forbes begged members not to leave.
The former Scottish Chancellor of the Exchequer said lifelong nationalists were «shocked, bewildered and offended» by the party's scandal.
A lengthy investigation into the party's finances also led to a search of the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh and the confiscation of an elite motorhomes outside the home of Mr. Murrell's 92-year-old mother in Dunfermline.
While Mr Murrell has been released without charge pending further investigation, SNP insiders have confirmed they have received reports that dedicated activists have quit the party as they now believe they have been «taken in» under Ms Sturgeon's leadership. for a fool.»< /p>
In her weekly column in the pro-independence newspaper The National, Ms. Forbes, who narrowly missed out on leading the SNP to Humza Yousaf, issued a «call on fellow members» to «keep well».
“Storm winds are hitting the ship, this is a call to everyone on deck,” she said. “If you are a member of the party and are thinking about resigning, please don't do it.
“If you are unhappy with what is happening, please stay. If you've recently left a party, as 50,000 people reportedly have done in recent years, consider joining again.
extraordinary actions in every part of the country.
“And the most extraordinary of them must be the victory of independence. We need you to do this.”
Ms. Forbes received 48% of the vote in the SNP leadership contest, and Mr. Yousaf was supported by 52% of members after the second round of voting.
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Ms Forbes's supporters believe she would have become First Minister if emergency police raids had taken place before the close of voting.
Ms Forbes was the candidate for change, and Mr Yusuf supported by the party establishment.
Ms. Forbes did not support calls by some sections of the SNP for a leadership election to be re-elected.
The 32-year-old, who downplayed but did not rule out a future leadership bid, said it was «nearly impossible for me to describe the events of recent several weeks.»
She admitted that every few days «a new revelation renews a sense of wonder» that left participants questioning their faith in the SNP.
Peter Murrell was released without charge pending further investigation. Photo: RUSSELL CHAIN/Reuters
She added: “Shock, confusion and pain are echoed by almost every participant and supporter I have met. Participants of 50 years and participants of five months are united by a lack of understanding of what is happening.
“The impact was reflected in the party. I spoke to a local participant who told me that she had donated to the party for decades as part of her contribution to independence.
“Another branch official claimed that he always followed due process, so as never to discredit the party. Both feel lost and bewildered.”
She urged Mr. Yusaf to urgently deliver on his promises to improve party governance and transparency, suggesting that he start with a report on why the party's auditors left. She wrote that “sunlight is the best disinfectant.”
Mr. Murrell, who has been CEO for over 20 years, stepped down last month after he admitted to misleading the public about membership data.
The SNP headquarters claimed that the party had about 104,000 members, when in fact that number dropped to 72,169 by March. The Telegraph requested updated membership information.
On Wednesday, Alex Neal, a former SNP minister turned leading critic of the Sturgeon regime, echoed Ms. Forbes' call for members to stick to the party.
«Everyone has to make their own decision, I would reiterate what Kate Forbes said,” he said.
«We're certainly going through a lot of hardship right now. But the fact of life is that without the SNP it's almost impossible to see Scotland achieve independence.
«So I tell every member of the party that we have to sort out this mess so that Humza and him sort it out, stay in the SNP and let's continue to fight for independence and unite.»
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