THE SNP has paused plans for an October conference as it wrestles with protracted internal rows and the fall out of the Alex Salmond case, the National understands.

An online event was due to take place in the coming four weeks, but members say they have not received the notifications they would have expected for it to take place within this time.

It is understood the event may now take place in November instead, but there is suspicion among some members that the party’s ruling body is not pushing for a conference

imminently after prominent MP and Salmond ally Joanna Cherry called for delegates to vote off members “with vendettas” from the National Executive Committee (NEC).

A new NEC with more Salmond supporters among its ranks could move to suspend Peter Murrell as the party’s chief executive and investigate WhatsApp messages he allegedly sent about the former First Minister. Murrell is married to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Last week East Lothian MP Kenny MacAskill, who was justice secretary under Salmond, called for Murrell to be suspended from his post and for the party to hold an investigation into the messages.

Separately, a Police Scotland inquiry has been launched into the leak of the texts which appear to show Murrell calling for pressure to be put on the police to investigate Salmond.

“We are in September now, so it’s going to be very difficult to have the conference in October,” one source said. “There is resistance to hold a conference as a new NEC would be more likely to suspend Peter Murrell and have an investigation into the Whatsapp messages.”

The source added: “If it was going to be happening in October there would need to be notifications going out as branches have a set amount of days to submit and amend motions. Given the timetable, there is now not enough time for that to happen for if the conference is to take place in October.”

A second insider said there was talk within the party about an online SNP annual conference possibly being moved to November.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have held autumn conferences with speeches and debates being held remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing restrictions.

Earlier this year the SNP took the decision to call off its spring conference, which had been set to take place in Aviemore in June amid the pandemic.

Around 600 people had been expected to attend.

Writing on the Wings Over Scotland blog, MacAskill last week asked why Murrell had not been suspended by the party.

He said: “It’s over a week since revelations broke of WhatsApp messages sent by Peter Murrell to his chief operating officer purporting to encourage pressure be brought to bear on police in the Alex Salmond case.

“Indeed, they appeared even to go beyond that, with the suggestion of the instigation of another enquiry by the Metropolitan Police.”

He added: “Now those things may or may not be criminal but it’s certainly conduct unbecoming of a party chief executive, raising questions about both him and his actions. After all, the SNP is the governing party and seeking to influence criminal investigations is simply unacceptable.”

The MP said the NEC had failed to discuss it at a meeting the previous Sunday, “despite the pleas and demands of several members.”

Days later Joanna Cherry called for NEC members “with vendettas” to be voted off the NEC at the SNP’s forthcoming conference.

The NEC changed the process for selecting Holyrood candidates in July to force its politicians in the Commons to resign as soon as they are selected to stand for the Scottish Parliament.

Cherry branded the ruling unfair and withdrew her attempt to be the candidate for Edinburgh Central at next May’s election.

SNP officials have consistently denied that the new rules were aimed at Cherry.

The SNP have been approached for comment.