A catalogue of SNP lies led to the downfall of chief executive Peter Murrell

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A catalogue of SNP lies exposed by the Sunday Mail yesterday led to the resignation of party boss Peter Murrell.The chief executive and husband of first minister Nicola Sturgeon was forced out after ordering a flat denial of our report that 30,000 memberships had been cancelled.The exclusive was described as “malicious and wholly untrue” but Murrell - who is also being investigated over fraud allegations - now admits it was 100 per cent accurate.Today we can reveal the rotten culture at SNP HQ that saw accurate stories repeatedly denied to cover up and protect reputations.All of the stories were true and resulted in police interviews and top level resignations.Murrell’s departure has plunged the race to replace Nicola Sturgeon into chaos - sparking fears the process is now so tainted ballots will need to be reissued.Two leadership candidates, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan, have questioned the independence of the election.They believe rival Humza Yousaf - the current health minister and close confidant of Sturgeon - is the establishment favourite and could have been given unfair campaign assistance.Murrell’s resignation came less than 24 hours after the party’s media chief Murray Foote resigned over the scandal about lying to the Sunday Mail over membership numbers.He revealed there had been “serious issues” with statements he had issued in “good faith” on behalf of party headquarters.In a statement yesterday afternoon, 58-year-old Murrell admitted he was to blame.He said: “Responsibility for the SNP’s responses to media queries about our membership number lies with me as Chief Executive.“While there was no intent to mislead, I accept that this has been the outcome.