SNP plans to cut staff at party headquarters

The SNP’s ruling physique has proposed slicing the variety of employees at its headquarters by greater than a 3rd, from 26 to 16.

The occasion’s nationwide govt committee (NEC) agreed to a proposal to “streamline” staffing throughout a gathering on Saturday.

A voluntary redundancy scheme has been opened.

Nationwide secretary Councillor Alex Kerr mentioned the transfer would “shield the long-term funds of the occasion”.

The announcement comes as its focus shifts to the 2026 Holyrood election.

The SNP, which has been in energy since 2007, faces a resurgent Labour Occasion which elevated its Scottish seats at Westminster from one to 37 in the summertime’s common election.

Mr Kerr mentioned: “The nationwide govt committee has been tasked with delivering a contemporary, dynamic election-winning occasion to win in 2026 and past – and right this moment’s settlement to seek the advice of on a brand new construction at headquarters makes key progress to ship on that purpose.

“The proposal, agreed by the SNP Nationwide Government Committee right this moment, would get HQ into form for future elections and for the struggle for independence.

“It could imply that not everybody at the moment employed at HQ will proceed with us however a streamlined headquarters protects the long-term funds of the occasion and delivers on the trendy, skilled, election-winning organisation Scotland wants.”

Mr Kerr mentioned the SNP’s success was constructed on the work of many individuals – at headquarters, in native marketing campaign groups and people in elected workplace.

He additionally thanked those that labored for the occasion and supported its purpose of an impartial Scotland.

The occasion suffered a heavy defeat in July’s common election and was left with 9, MPs in comparison with 48 in 2019.

Together with the lack of its standing because the third largest occasion at Westminster, the SNP additionally misplaced out on a bulk of its so-called brief cash.

That is supplied to opposition events to permit them to hold out their parliamentary duties.

Final month the SNP’s chief govt Murray Foote give up the submit after 14 months.

The previous newspaper editor mentioned that he “couldn’t make the required private dedication” to main a reorganisation of the occasion after their disappointing election efficiency.

The SNP has additionally struggled for substantial donations in recent times, relying as an alternative on membership charges.

It’s the largest political occasion in Scotland, with figures from June exhibiting it had 65,000 members.

However falling membership numbers have triggered a drop in revenue.

The present membership is roughly half what it was after a surge following 2014’s independence referendum.

This 12 months, 81% of the occasion’s funding got here from membership charges, in comparison with simply 35% in 2015 – the 12 months former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon led it to an enormous 56 seats within the common election.

The occasion’s funds have been bettering lately and its most up-to-date accounts confirmed it was in surplus.

In the meantime, there’s an ongoing police probe into the SNP’s funds.

The occasion’s former chief govt Peter Murrell, who’s married to former first minister and ex-SNP chief Nicola Sturgeon, has been charged with embezzling occasion funds.

The Crown Workplace are at the moment contemplating whether or not there’s sufficient proof to prosecute Mr Murrell, and whether or not a prosecution could be within the public curiosity.

Sturgeon and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie had been additionally arrested and launched with out cost, pending additional investigation.