NICOLA Sturgeon has hit back at claims by party president Mike Russell that the SNP is in a "mess".
The outgoing First Minister has also denied the party lied to journalists about the party's plummeting membership.
Sturgeon's husband and party chief executive Peter Murrell resigned from his role on Saturday amid reports that he was facing a vote of no confidence from party members.
SNP head of media Murray Foote stood down a day earlier.
The party was finally forced to admit last week that it had lost 30,000 members over the last two years despite rubbishing earlier reports of a slump. Acting CEO and party president Mike Russell said the party was in a "tremendous mess" and that he had "no idea" why journalists had been misled over the membership numbers.
But Sturgeon denied these claims on ITV's Loose Women yesterday saying: "Mike was referring to some of the issues around the leadership election. The SNP's not in a mess.
It's going through... some growing pains. They are necessary but they're difficult." Figures released by the party last week showed the party's membership had dropped from 103,884 in 2021 to 72,186 in February this year.
Our sister paper the Sunday Mail had been told weeks earlier that there was no membership slump, with SNP spin doctor Foote calling the Sunday Mail's story "drivel".
It now appears Foote had been given the wrong figures by SNP HQ to pass on to the press.
Sturgeon denied the SNP had intentionally misled the public and journalists over how many people had left the party.
She said: "My husband has been chief executive of the SNP for longer than I have been leader. He was going to step down... and has decided to take responsibility for that situation, I think rightly.
This story is from the March 21, 2023 edition of Daily Record.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 21, 2023 edition of Daily Record.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
GET UP AND D'OH!
Davies rues another slow start in crunch match
NOVAK HEADS FOR CHECKS AFTER KNOCK
NOVAK DJOKOVIC is set to undergo medical tests after feeling the effects of being struck on the head by a bottle in his shock exit from the Italian Open.
WE WON'T TAKE THIS LION DOWN
Weir insists Warriors will get title bid back on track
IF BROOKS COULD KILL
'Contract killer' Koepka primed for title defence
WIN FOR THE AGES
Make no mistake, Fury wants place in history
CARERS IN £20,000 UNPAID WAGES FIGHT
Workers also say firm failed to supply P45s
DARIA FINDS KEYS TO HER HAPPINESS
Musician wowed train station crowds
UNNAMED DEAD NOT FORGOTTEN
Tribute to poor 'commoners' after 200 years
300,000 ESCAPE
Refugees flee as Israel threatens Rafah onslaught
BRAIN BUTCHER POLICE PROTEST
Patients waiting for more than five years say not enough is being done to bring shamed medic to justice