Alex Salmond founded his party in 2021, but so far it has not had an impact on the elections. Photo: Geoff J. Mitchell
SNP warned of defection as Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf is forced to deny that the party is in danger of bankruptcy.
It comes amid fears that dozens of MPs will defect to Alex Salmond's Alba party, which is suffering splits over gender reforms and a police probe into its finances.
Alba, a pro-independence party founded in ahead of the 2021 Holyrood election, has so far failed to achieve a breakthrough in the election, and has been questioning its long-term viability.
Colin Beatty, SNP Treasurer, told the National Executive Committee (NEC) that the party is «experiencing difficulty balancing due to declining membership and donors» and that fighting a potential by-election in Rutherglen & Hamilton West «will put pressure on the party.»
In a Sunday Times report, he added: «We need to find money to keep the party going or we'll cut our tail until there's nothing left.» leftist.»
Humza Yousaf denies that the SNP is facing bankruptcy as he confirmed that court auditors could be appointed after a meeting of the party's governing body.
Speaking to reporters shortly after the meeting of the SNP's National Executive Council (NEC), the First Minister said the body had agreed to conduct a governance and transparency review.
Responding to a question about speculation that the party might be bankrupt, he said that She is «payable». and bankruptcy was not discussed at the NEC.
He said: “We are not close to bankruptcy. This is what I read in some social media circles, but no, the party is solvent.
The party claims it has welcomed almost 1,000 new members since the police ransacked the house. which Nicola Sturgeon shares with her husband Peter Murrell, a former SNP executive who was arrested.
Peter Murrell's home earlier this month. Credit: REUTERS
Alba has also been keen to capture the gender divide: Mr Yousaf, who narrowly won the leadership challenge, confirmed he will go to court to revive Ms Sturgeon's controversial self-identification law after how he was blocked by Westminster.
< p>Chris McEleney, a former SNP board member and now Alba general secretary, said the party is in regular talks with about eight SNP MSPs and six MPs, some of whom he believes could be off the ship by summer.
< p >Senior sources within the SNP have acknowledged that they have received reports of exodus of longtime members out of fear of being «taken for fools» under Ms. Sturgeon.
“We had 700 to 800 people. new members since Humza became leader,” said Mr. McEleney. “The latest Panelbase survey showed that we scored five per cent, which would be enough to secure places in Holyrood across Scotland.
“This was before Peter Murrell's arrest, so we are confident that this will increase. We hear from people who are really unhappy and feel that they can no longer ethically justify being in the SNP.
“A huge number of independence supporters will be looking for a new political home. Our job is to show that we are a reliable option.”
Mr McEleney added: “We talk to a lot of SNP politicians and they have a lot of good will. We agree more with them on issues of independence, gender, oil and gas and the green than they do with the current leadership of the SNP. can pretty quickly stop seeing Alba as just good friends, but as a new political home.”
It emerged last week that police had confiscated a luxurious SNP RV from the home of Mr. Murrell's elderly mother. He was released by police without charge pending further investigation.
Joanna Cherry, MP for the SNP and a former member of the NEC party, told The National newspaper that members who expressed concerns about the party's finances at a meeting in December 2020, screamed and that the atmosphere was «menacing.»
She also said that Mr. Murrell was «very lucky» that he had not been suspended by the party.
Mr Yousaf, who became leader of the SNP after two rounds of voting, was the only one of three candidates who supported Ms Sturgeon's Gender Identity Act, which would allow Scots to change their legal gender by signing a declaration.
More participants gave away his first preference for Kate Forbes or Ash Regan, who both oppose self-identification -ID, than Mr. Yusuf.
Ms Regan, who came in third, left Ms Sturgeon's government to vote against the bill and warned this week that Mr Yousaf would suffer a «humiliating defeat» in his judicial review to override the UK government's veto.< /p>
The Westminster government blocked the law, fearing that it would violate UK-wide equality legislation and undermine the rights and protection of women and girls. Polls show that these proposals are extremely unpopular among the Scots.
Ms Sturgeon's coalition deal with the Scottish Greens, who see support for gender reform as a red line, is another contentious issue. Mr. Yusuf continued the pact, which also commits him to a controversial policy regarding fishing bans. party unity, which his predecessors enjoyed for a long time. Credit: REUTERS
Alba launched a petition this week calling on the SNP-led government to end its «gender obsession» and instead «focus on self-determination».
Alex Bell, former head of the political department of the SNP government, described Mr. Yusuf's determination to push the gender bill as «strange.»
He said: «I see no evidence that challenging this and turning it into a great battle will help defeat people who are not currently sympathetic to independence.
“For a party that is not in the best shape, it seems very strange that you are dealing with an issue that is divisive within your party.”
Alba currently has two MPs, Kenny MacAskill and Neil Hanvey, both former SNP MPs who defected when Mr Salmond founded his party. local elections this year.
An SNP spokesman said: “We don't have to look too far back to see the predictions of the Alba party that didn't come true.
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" The SNP is the only grassroots party in Scotland. «Alba» failed to win in any of the elections in which she has ever participated"
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