SNP politicians have claimed membership numbers have gone up in some parts of the country – despite a high-profile ongoing police investigation into the party.
Two MPs have touted increases in their patches – with one claiming some new sign-ups believe a deep state conspiracy is to blame for the arrest of Peter Murrell as part of a probe into the SNP’s finances.
One MP told The National: “I can tell you that the SNP membership in my constituency has gone up […] since the beginning of this month.
“I think in Scotland there is a feeling that there is some involvement by MI5 or Unionist governments just because the sheer scale of it is just outrageous.
“I’m not a great conspiracy theorist to be honest I think it’s probably a misjudgment on the part of Police Scotland – I don’t buy there’s a conspiracy to do it. There are members saying that.”
Murrell was released without charge after he was questioned at length by police officers following a dramatic raid on his and former first minister Nicola Sturgeon’s family home in Uddingston.
Great news from our patch. And hearing this a lot from elsewhere in the country too. pic.twitter.com/prJk7Z6eSm
— JOHN NICOLSON M.P. (@MrJohnNicolson) April 13, 2023
Perthshire MP John Nicolson took to social media on Thursday to share an update from the Perthshire South and Kinross-shire SNP branch which said their numbers had “increased” and added: “Great news from our patch. And hearing this a lot from elsewhere in the country too.”
One Twitter user responded that membership in Cumnock, East Ayrshire was “up 45”.
The SNP were forced to admit last month its membership had fallen by 32,000 in two years, meaning the party had 72,000 paid-up members. This means the party remains the biggest in Scotland, despite the dramatic drop.
Writing in The National earlier this week, leadership runner-up Kate Forbes pleaded with members to stick with the party, adding: “This party’s historic success was secured by ordinary members doing extraordinary things in every part of the country.
“And the most extraordinary thing of them all must be to win independence. To do that, we need you.”
The SNP were approached for comment.
