SNP lawyer axed in party staffing shakeup

-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


THE SNP has axed its long-serving lawyer amid a shake-up of staff at its party HQ.

Scott Martin’s departure is the latest in a series of senior figures to leave since the arrival of its new chief executive.

Martin, the SNP’s solicitor for decades, worked closely with former party boss Peter Murrell on company account filings, grant applications and compliance with electoral rules.

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His colleague Sue Ruddick, the SNP’s chief operating officer, also left the organisation in the last week, reportedly with seven others.

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Both employees have held senior positions in the SNP throughout Operation ­Branchform – a police ­investigation into the alleged misuse of party funds.

Murray Foote (left), chief executive of the SNP,and lawyer Scott Martin watches as John Swinney is sworn in as First Minister of Scotland and Keeper of the Scottish Seal, at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. Picture date: Wednesday May 8, 2024.
Murray Foote (left), chief executive of the SNP,and lawyer Scott Martin watches as John Swinney is sworn in as First Minister of Scotland and Keeper of the Scottish Seal, at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. Picture date: Wednesday May 8, 2024.

A senior SNP source told the Sunday Mail: “Scott is leaving, which will be a loss for the party as he knew a lot about processes and procedures.

“I think he realises it’s time to move on. Sue has also left and there are a lot of changes going on under the new chief executive.

“Scott is a competent guy who goes back a long way with many people in the SNP.

“Even when Peter left there was a fair bit of scrabbling around to try and figure out how everything worked.”

Another party source said: “It’s chaos for the SNP right now. We have these long-serving staff leaving, Nicola and Peter divorcing, the police investigation still ongoing. It never ends.”

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In November the SNP’s ruling body agreed to a more “streamlined” staffing structure and announced plans to cut jobs from 26 to 16.

The party’s income has dropped in recent years due to falling membership numbers and the move was seen as a way to save money.

It was announced by Carol Beattie, who became chief executive ­temporarily after Murray Foote quit.

Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell.
Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell. -Credit:PA Wire

Foote replaced former first minister Nicola Sturgeon’s husband Murrell, who stood down after misleading the Sunday Mail about the party’s membership figures.

Sturgeon revealed last week that her 14-year marriage to Murrell was over and that they had been “separated for some time”.

In 2023, Murrell was arrested as part of Operation Branchform and was last year charged with embezzlement.

Sturgeon and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie were arrested but later released without charge.

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The SNP said it was unable to comment on staffing and said: “It would not be appropriate to comment on a
live process.”

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