SNP to review party structure following membership surge

The SNP national executive committee has launched an urgent review of the party’s rules and structures in order to ensure it can cope with the surge in membership following the independence referendum.

With more than 50,000 people signing up to join the SNP since September, the party plans to waive the 13-month rule – which was set up to avoid manipulation of candidate selection – paving the way for those who joined the party during the referendum campaign to stand as candidates.

Meanwhile sources suggest the party could seek to change candidate selection processes in order to parachute in big name or celebrity figures who were drawn to the party during the referendum to fight future elections.

SNP Business Convener Derek Mackay told Holyrood: “Nationally, we have had to take a look with some urgency at some of our existing rules and how new members are treated. We want to make sure there is equality and that is why a special national council at the conference will address the 13-month rule, and something I support as Business Convener is that we need to make new members feel equal.

“That said, not every new member has a vote in the election contest for [deputy] leader, because you have to draw a line somewhere and it was on the opening of nominations for that contest. But absolutely, we want to make all the new members feel equal in this party.

“So the national executive committee has met since the referendum and has agreed to take forward a review of the structures and the rules of the party to make sure it is fit for purpose with this new mass membership. We need to review it – it is something that the national executive committee has agreed – and [we will] address the 13-month rule in terms of voting in parliamentary selections so that they are empowered to participate in that.”