Murray Foote named SNP’s new chief government after resignation of Nicola Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell

The SNP’s former spin physician who stepped down after being misled over membership figures will return to the celebration as its chief government.

Murray Foote left his head of communications submit earlier this yr after being given deceptive info by then-SNP chief government Peter Murrell to offer to the media, suggesting the celebration’s membership was greater than 100,000, when it was actually round 72,000.

Mr Murrell – the husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon – additionally resigned in response to the scandal, earlier than being arrested the next month in relation to the police probe into the celebration’s funds. He was launched with out cost pending additional investigation.

Mr Foote, a former editor of the Daily Record, mentioned he was “delighted” to take up the position of SNP chief government, including that he was trying ahead “to helping build the campaign for independence”.

He was the SNP’s head of communication and analysis at Holyrood from February 2020 to March 2023 earlier than stepping down from that position amid the row over celebration membership numbers.

Although initially branding the information stories as “drivel”, it will definitely emerged that the SNP had misplaced round 30,000 celebration members since 2021.

Mr Foote mentioned he acted in “good faith” when issuing agreed celebration responses to media inquiries.

Mr Murrell shouldered the blame and resigned as chief government after greater than 20 years on the helm of the celebration.

At the time, he mentioned: “While there was no intent to mislead, I accept that this has been the outcome.”

Mr Murrell, Ms Sturgeon and ex-party treasurer Colin Beattie have every been arrested and launched with out cost amid a police probe into the SNP’s funding and funds.

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The SNP mentioned Mr Foote’s appointment adopted the conclusion of a “rigorous, open recruitment process” that “generated significant interest from a range of high-quality candidates”.

Kirsten Oswald MP, SNP enterprise convener, mentioned: “Murray was an exceptional candidate in a strong field.

“His managerial expertise and abilities will allow him to hit the bottom working in delivering for SNP members, together with main adjustments in governance and transparency in celebration headquarters.”

Mr Foote will take up his appointment on Monday.