A HUGE warm welcome to the more than 10,000 new SNP members who signed up this week. The boost to Scotland’s governing party comes only nine weeks ahead of Scottish Parliament elections and just as Covid-safe campaigning activities are given the green light to candidates and activists. By way of comparison the 10,000 new SNP members are equivalent to 61% of the entire membership of the Scottish Labour Party, 91% of the Scottish Tory membership and 245% of the Scottish LibDems.

The mass SNP membership self-sign-up follows the appearance by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the Scottish Parliament inquiry into the handling of sexual harassment allegations made by civil servants against former First Minister Alex Salmond.

Social media posts have gone viral with the hashtag #IstandwithNicola, numerous commentators commended her marathon evidence performance and there was feedback from international observers too. High-profile former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis said: “I have tried and tried to see what the real charge against Nicola Sturgeon is. But, for the life of me, I am failing to see anything beyond minor issues regarding who said what to whom in highly inconsequential meetings. Where? In a UK led by [Boris Johnson]???”

That is the Boris Johnson who has just been found to have misled the UK Parliament about the publication of coronavirus contracts. Previously the Prime Minister claimed that the contracts, which are the focus of legal challenge and allegations of cronyism, were “on the record for everybody to see”. According to a final order by the English High Court the UK Government has failed to publish on time “100 relevant contracts”.

The revelation that Boris Johnson misled parliament follows another ruling by an English High Court that UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock had acted unlawfully by handing out contracts without publishing details in a timely way. His unlawful activity follows Tory Home Secretary Priti Patel being found to have broken the Ministerial Code. Both remain in office.

READ MORE: SNP gains more than 7000 new members after Nicola Sturgeon's committee appearance

This week a six-figure settlement was reached with a senior civil servant after claims that Priti Patel forced him out of his job after he intervened in her alleged bullying of fellow staff. Sir Philip Rutnam, who was the permanent secretary in the Home Office, received a £340,000 settlement with an additional £30,000 in costs. Rutnam had threatened to take the Home Secretary to an employment tribunal hearing in September. It has emerged that Patel has also been accused of bullying in two other government departments – the Department for International Development and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Most people in Scotland are heartily sick of the relish taken by opposition politicians and right-wing commentators in trying to take out the First Minister rather than stand up for female victims. With Nicola Sturgeon enjoying high levels of trust and support it is obvious that the Tories have been pursuing a partisan vendetta against the First Minister, announcing a motion of no-confidence in her before even hearing what she had to say. As I wrote about in last week’s column: having been unable to dent the growing support for independence, now it’s open season on the Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament, Scottish legal system and Scotland’s general ability to manage its own affairs.

Now however, the total rank hypocrisy of the Scottish Tories is there for all to see. Has Douglas Ross tabled a motion of no-confidence yet in the Prime Minister, Health Secretary and

Home Secretary for: misleading parliament, acting unlawfully and breaking the Ministerial Code? Thought not. Total silence.

The best response to the Tories is to defeat them in the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary elections. Let’s do everything we can to re-elect Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister and the SNP Scottish Government with a renewed and unanswerable mandate for an independence referendum.

New guidelines have been issued to political parties about what campaign activities are allowed within health guidelines. Let’s work hard and take nothing for granted. We are trying to ensure that the message gets across that we should apply for postal votes, give both votes to the SNP and put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands.

READ MORE: Court order shows 'Boris Johnson misled parliament over Covid-19 contracts'

There are now only 61 days to go until the Scottish Parliament elections and 40 days until postal votes are issued. All Scottish independence supporters should think about what they can do to maximise turnout in the election for the SNP. Check out what your local candidate has planned, volunteer, donate if you can and support their local campaign. This will arguably be the most important election in Scotland’s history.

To the new SNP members: you are extremely welcome. You have given a big boost to the SNP and the momentum towards independence. Please take part in the campaign. There is much to do. Let’s work hard to win.