HQ staff to be axed as skint SNP cuts back after election misery

Cash-strapped SNP bosses need to cut staff at the party’s headquarters by more than a third after haemorrhaging tens of thousands of members and taking a battering at the last general election.

Its national executive committee met on Saturday to agree a consultation on opening a voluntary redundancy scheme as it seeks to “streamline” from 26 workers to 16.

The party suffered heavy defeats in July’s general election, losing dozens of MPs and being reduced to just nine seats.

As well as losing its status as the third party in British politics, the SNP also missed out on the bulk of its so-called Short Money – provided to opposition parties to allow them to carry out their parliamentary duties.

What has happened to membership cash?

The SNP has struggled for substantial donations in recent years, relying instead on membership fees. But this has become more difficult with its membership numbers falling by 10,000 in the past year.

At its peak in 2019, the party had 125,000 members but at last count just 64,525 people were signed up.

This year, 81% of the party’s funding came from membership fees, compared to just 35% in 2015 – the year Nicola Sturgeon led it to win 56 seats at Westminster.

Councillor Alex Kerr, the party’s national secretary, said: “The national executive committee has been tasked with delivering a modern, dynamic election-winning party to win in 2026 and beyond – and today’s agreement to consult on a new structure at headquarters makes key progress to deliver on that aim.

“The proposal, agreed by the SNP national executive committee today, would get HQ into shape for future elections and for the fight for independence.

“It would mean that not everyone currently employed at HQ will continue with us but a streamlined headquarters protects the long-term finances of the party and delivers on the modern, professional, election-winning organisation Scotland needs.”

© Kath Flannery

Kerr added: “The SNP’s success is built on the work of many people – in our party HQ, in local campaign teams and those in elected office.

“I’d like to extend my thanks to all of those who continue to work for the party to achieve that ultimate aim of independence for Scotland.”

The announcement comes as the party’s eyes shift to the 2026 Holyrood election and as it looks to maintain its grip on power in Scotland against a resurgent Labour Party that has seen its poll numbers level off in recent months.

Sturgeon said no concerns on finances

A leaked video from March 2021 showed Sturgeon playing down concerns about the SNP’s finances, telling the NEC that the party’s coffers had never been stronger.

She said: “There are no reasons for people to be concerned about the party’s finances and all of us need to be careful about not suggesting that there is.”

The claim came just months before the police launched a probe into the SNP’s books.

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: “Given the SNP’s woeful mismanagement of the nation’s finances, it’s not surprising the party is facing money struggles of its own.

“After a string of recent by-election defeats and a new scandal surrounding Neil Gray’s use of taxpayer-funded limos, the public are sick and tired of SNP scandal and incompetence.

“The nationalists have abandoned common sense and it seems that even many of their core supporters are now abandoning them.

“But John Swinney will need to do more than restructure SNP HQ if he’s to win back the trust of the public.

“The SNP need to stop treating taxpayers with contempt and start delivering for what really matters to people across the country.”