SNP leader candidates call for 'robust' audit of vote system

Two of the 3 candidates vying to beryllium person of the SNP privation an autarkic auditor to oversee the enactment vote.

Kate Forbes' run manager, MSP Michelle Thomson, said concerns had been raised astir the integrity of the ballot process.

Ash Regan's spokesperson said an auditor would springiness reassurance to enactment members and the public.

The SNP is expected to merchandise its rank figures connected Thursday aft demands from each 3 successful the contest.

It antecedently said it would lone springiness the numbers erstwhile the effect of the ballot was announced.

The SNP has been approached for comment.

On Thursday Ash Regan called for transparency successful an unfastened letter, besides written connected behalf of Kate Forbes, to SNP main enforcement serviceman Peter Murrell.

Humza Yousaf's squad said helium had "sought assurances" figures would beryllium released.

Mr Murrell, who is Nicola Sturgeon's husband, was urged to clarify "paid-up" enactment subordinate numbers, and the fig of integer and postal voting papers that had been released.

Ms Thomson aboriginal said immoderate concerns that had been raised were "based connected hearsay oregon are from atrocious religion actors", however, others had been expressed by longstanding enactment members.

She said she had written 2 letters to the party's nationalist caput but had not yet had a response.

Ms Thomson explained successful a statement: "There seems to beryllium a cognition that the 3rd enactment institution operating the ballot process is a) autarkic and b) are liable for the full process.

"This is not the lawsuit - they are simply a institution contracted by the SNP to supply services to their client's specification. This is wholly different.

"The SNP themselves stay yet accountable and liable for galore of the processes, oversight and eventual integrity of the ballot."

Ms Thomson said the information that questions were being asked could lone further undermine spot successful headquarters.

"This is not a presumption I privation to see," she said. "We each hold that the enactment indispensable unify astir immoderate recently elected leader.

"I person asked that the SNP name a robust, experienced, third-party auditor of some the ballot processes and the eventual tally of the vote. This 3rd enactment indispensable person afloat oversight of each rank numbers, information and processes.

"This should beryllium done without delay."

Ms Regan's advisor Kirk Torrance tweeted that that auditors were needed "now" successful airy of "unanswered questions".

He added: "Independent auditors volition springiness reassurance to the SNP members and the wide nationalist that this ballot is conducted properly. This should person been the lawsuit from the outset."

However, SNP MP Gavin Newlands dismissed the connection by Ms Thomson, tweeting that helium could not judge "this Trumpian nonsense has present deed my ain party".

He insisted the ballot was being carried retired by "a highly regarded and autarkic 3rd party".

The BBC understands the party's ruling assemblage - the nationalist enforcement committee - is to person a peculiar gathering connected Thursday to see the contented and elder SNP sources are assured work volition beryllium brought forward.

Earlier successful the campaign, the party's nationalist enforcement committee was astatine the centre of a enactment implicit blocking media entree to enactment hustings events for the enactment contention - a determination that was besides reversed.

An SNP spokesperson antecedently told BBC Scotland that the candidates had been told "responsibility for the enactment predetermination does not remainder with immoderate subordinate of staff".

Throughout the campaign, the SNP has refused to corroborate however galore members were successful the party.

Westminster person Stephen Flynn told BBC Scotland connected Tuesday helium had "no idea", adding: "I deliberation the past clip I heard it was astir 100,000."

The SNP said its rank had reached 125,000 by 2019, but the Electoral Commission enactment the fig astatine 104,000 2 years later.

The Mail connected Sunday reported that Southampton-based polling steadfast Mi-Voice, which is overseeing the enactment vote, had been fixed the names of conscionable 78,000 members by the SNP.

The ballot to find a replacement for Ms Sturgeon, which uses the azygous transferable ballot system, opened connected Monday with the victor to beryllium announced connected 27 March.