Membership of the SNP has plunged again, with the party’s accounts showing the number has dropped by 12% in less than a year.

Accounts filed with the Electoral Commission show that as of June 1 this year, SNP membership stood at 64,525.

That was down 9,411 from the membership the party had – as revealed in the previous year’s accounts – of 73,936 on June 29, 2023.

That compares to 103,884 members the SNP had at the end of December 2021 – with the latest accounts stating: “Our membership has fallen from recent historic highs.”

Income from membership fees has also fallen, with the total raised dropping from £2,286,944 in 2022 to £2,093,967 in 2023.

With the accounts noting the impact of “cost-of-living pressures” on both donations and fundraising income, the party states it is offering members the option of a “holiday” from fees or reduced giving in a bid to help keep numbers up.

“At all levels we need to redouble our efforts to recruit new members,” the accounts state.

Despite the reduction in membership fees, SNP income overall grew last year – going from £4,248,625 in 2022 to £4,753,512 in 2023.

After posting a deficit of just over £800,000 in 2022 the party has returned to surplus, with the figures showing this to be £662,293.

That comes after spending by the party fell markedly from £5,052,284 in 2022 to £4,091,219 in 2023.

However the party’s income for 2023 included £274,408 of cash left in legacies by supporters after their death – with the accounts stating this money “has not actually yet been received”.

The accounts also show the party still owed £60,000 to its former chief executive Peter Murrell – Nicola Sturgeon’s husband – as of December 31, 2023.

This was described in the accounts as being a loan from “former executive management”.

Murrell was charged by police in April this year in connection with the alleged embezzlement of party funds.

Headshot of John Swinney
John Swinney became SNP leader and First Minister in May (PA)

The Scottish Conservatives said the accounts “continue to raise serious questions for the SNP”.

Chairman Craig Hoy said of the party: “They are astonishingly still in debt to the tune of £60,000 to their disgraced former chief executive Peter Murrell.

“It is now three years since they made any repayment on that loan.

“The SNP must explain why they have not severed all ties with him and when they are going to do the right thing and pay this money back.”

Mr Hoy also said auditors had “again raised concerns over the party’s book-keeping in relation to how they documented income that was received through membership and fundraisers, which is highly irregular and meant they could only provide a qualified audit”.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: “It’s clear for all to see that the SNP is deep in financial chaos.

“As outstanding bills are left unpaid, the SNP is facing an exodus of party members and dwindling numbers of donors.

“The simple fact is that the people of Scotland no longer view the tired, scandal-ridden and incompetent SNP as a serious party of government.

“Only Scottish Labour is ready to replace the SNP, clean up our politics and deliver the change Scotland needs.”

The SNP said it would be “inappropriate” to comment on the loan from Murrell while the police investigation into party finances is ongoing.

A source said: “The Tories are bankrolled by Russians and donors they themselves have called ‘racist’ while the SNP is financed by ordinary Scots. Like the Scottish Tories, these comments are nonsensical and pointless.”