More extraordinary details have emerged about the secretive and increasingly paranoid clique at the top of the SNP under Nicola Sturgeon’s time in charge of the party.
Nat chiefs became so worried about leaks they refused to print out key documents and would instead pass around information on shared laptops that couldn’t leave the room.
One insider told the Sunday Post there was a “culture of secrecy” during meetings of the National Executive Committee, especially when party finances were being discussed. Another echoed Donald Trump by calling on bosses to “drain the swamp”.
READ MORE: Humza Yousaf accused of ‘wall of silence’ as his grasp of party called into question
The SNP has fallen apart in a matter of months since Ms Sturgeon’s sudden resignation in February, followed by a disastrous leadership contest riven by bitter infighting.
Police then arrested former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell – Ms Sturgeon’s husband – and former treasurer Colin Beattie.
They were questioned as suspects in the ongoing probe into allegations of fraud relating to £600,000 of “ringfenced” donations. Both men were released without charge.
Meanwhile, a row has erupted in North Lanarkshire over the alleged failure to investigate complaints of sexual harassment against former SNP council leader Jordan Linden. The debacle has seen seven councillors leave the local SNP group.
One senior source told the Sunday Post: “We’ve been asking questions for years and getting roadblocked and told it’s not relevant.
“There were ridiculous meetings where because there was a previous leak they started withholding documentation.
“They would say things like we’re not going to provide you with a paper copy of this, we’ll pass around a laptop so you can see it on screen.
“And that was the extent of what they got to see. That’s no way to run any organisation. In no other organisation I’ve ever been involved in would that have been accepted.”
An SNP MP said numbered documents would be handed out and then collected back in and checked at the end of other meetings with senior colleagues.
‘Bigger mess than Labour’s anti-Semitism scandal under Corbyn’
Meanwhile, party figures described a dysfunctional complaints process where problems go unresolved for years.
Another source described the running of the party as a “s**t show” and said “there have been issues with HQ for a long time and not just around finances.
“There have been complaints that have gone to HQ from across Scotland – some serious complaints – that were sent to people like Peter [Murrell].
“There was this whole climate of essentially if we just don’t deal with it or acknowledge it, it will just disappear. That is what is now coming back to bite them all on the arse.
“In some senses, I’m kind of thankful that is the case. It’s a bit Trumpesque to say it but I do actually think we need to drain the swamp.”
One SNP MP described the failure to deal with internal complaints as a bigger mess than Labour’s handling of anti-Semitism under Jeremy Corbyn.
And he said he does not get the impression things have improved since Mr Murrell left, adding: “The culture has to change. There is a need for substantial internal reform.
“There needs to be a complaints process that is worthy of the name and we need to have a serious look at vetting.
“There are branches that have been waiting years for responses to complaints.”
‘Never again can the SNP claim to be open and transparent’
Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said the revelations are a “devastating testimony” to paranoia, secrecy and stonewalling under Mr Murrell’s leadership.
Mr Hoy said: “We knew that a tiny clique at the top of the party hoarded information and decision making but it’s mind-boggling to think that they wouldn’t print or email details to supposedly loyal colleagues for fear of leaks.
“Never again can SNP politicians try to claim with a straight face that their party is open and transparent.”
An SNP spokesperson said: “The SNP’s democratically elected National Executive Committee has governed the party well for many years and, under the leadership of Humza Yousaf, the SNP is undertaking work to go further to improve our governance and transparency wherever we can.
“If any member has suggestions on where to make improvements on governance then they are encouraged to feed into the review group already under way.”
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