THE SNP leadership contest has been a “huge exercise in party democracy” and members should have confidence in the process despite a row over the reporting of membership numbers, an MSP has said.
Neil Gray – who is backing Humza Yousaf in the leadership race – hit out at members and candidates seeking to “throw suspicion” on the party’s democratic process in a column for the Daily Record as he argued no contender should be looking to undermine the result.
The result of the contest will be confirmed next Monday.
Over the weekend, Peter Murrell resigned as the SNP’s chief executive after it was admitted that the media was given false information about the number of members who had left the party in recent years.
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An article that the SNP lost 30,000 members in a few years was dismissed by the party HQ but later was admitted to be accurate when membership numbers were disclosed after leadership contenders requested them.
But Gray argued despite the fallout of the last few days, the contest has led to a “huge exercise in party democracy” with nine hustings around the country and online as well as several TV debates held.
He said: “The responsibility of selecting the next party leader and Scotland’s next First Minister should be a heavy one. It is a decision being taken by the SNP on behalf of the wider country.
“And SNP members have that unique opportunity because by standing on a progressive policy platform, the SNP has won election after election in recent times.
“Those election wins have come as a result of earning the trust of voters and ensuring that trust is strengthened and retained.
“Those who are wishing to throw suspicion on their own party’s democratic process, with no tangible or credible evidence, do harm to that reputation.
“No candidate should seek to undermine the result and all candidates should be campaigning for every vote right until the end, I know Humza Yousaf will be.
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“The contest has led to a huge exercise in party democracy. Nine hustings around the country and online have enabled every one of the more than 70,000 members of our party to see the candidates they are choosing from questioned by each other and fellow members.
“TV hustings have shown the nation who could be their next first minister and I believe have shown the SNP that we work better when we support each other not attack and undermine each other.”
Kate Forbes said she felt “very confident” in the party’s ability to run the contest on BBC Radio Scotland on Monday morning after she, Ash Regan and Yousaf put pressure on the party to release membership numbers last week.
The SNP confirmed there are 72,186 current members.
Forbes also called for independent auditors to oversee the race last week and she said on Monday that remains her position.
Yousaf said over the weekend the party had scored an “own goal” in giving misleading membership figures to the press but described is as more a “cock up than a conspiracy”.
Gray said the organisation overseeing the ballot – Mi-Voice – has a reputation for integrity.
He said: “When the ballots are counted next week they will be done by an independent, widely recognised ballot services company.
“They are an organisation with a reputation for integrity. They are used by other companies, other political parties and they’ve even been used by the SNP for internal elections in the past.
“In fact, candidates in this very contest have won internal contests using this very system. And this system has been used in SNP deputy leadership contests without a single eyebrow raised.
“The election process itself is member-led, as it should be in a democratic organisation.
“That democratic, member led independent process is one I have confidence in and one I believe party members should have confidence in.”
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