THE SNP saw their membership surge by almost 15,000 ahead of the Holyrood election in May and in the weeks that followed. 

Figures given in the party's accounts, published by the Electoral Commission today, reveal that at the end of 2020 the party had 105,393 members - down from 125,691 on December 31, 2019. 

However, in the months leading up to the poll, the party saw a significant rise in membership.

READ MORE: Electoral Commission: SNP accounts for 2020 reveal £1m financial surplus

The document notes: "All of those cancelling or lowering their membership payments listed the pandemic as the reason. The first quarter of 2021 saw the overall number of members bounce back.

"By March 31, the number of members was 116,853. And by the end of May, it had increased further to over 119,000."

The accounts show that the SNP raised £200,000 more from its membership fees in 2020 than in the previous year with income through this avenue increasing from £2.2m in 2019 to £2.4m the following year.

The National:

The report also revealed that membership fees were the party's single largest source of income, accounting for 55% of revenue generated in 2020.

The SNP won a record fourth term in government in May, taking 64 seats, one short of a majority.

The party put a promise to hold an independence referendum at the heart of their manifesto, pledging to hold a new vote within the term of new parliament which ends in 2026 on the condition the Covid pandemic has passed.