NICOLA Sturgeon has said it was right for her husband to resign as the party's chief executive after 20 years in the role. 

Outside her home in Glasgow, the First Minister responded to Peter Murrell announcing his resignation today.

When asked by Sky News if she had any reaction to her husband's resignation, Ms Sturgeon said: "He's obviously taking responsibility for the recent issue with membership. He had intended to stand down when there was a new leader but I think he was right to make that announcement today".

She added: "Peter's been a key part of the electoral success we've achieved in recent years, and I know there will be a recognition about this across the party."

READ MORE: Peter Murrell resigns as SNP chief executive with immediate effect

Mr Murrell resigned just before noon today as the SNP’s chief executive with immediate effect amid ongoing turmoil in the party's leadership contest.

The move came as The Herald revealed members of the SNP’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) threatened a vote of no confidence in him.

It follows the departure of the SNP media chief Murray Foote, who left on Friday amid a row over the party’s membership numbers.

In his statement, Mr Murrell said: “Responsibility for the SNP’s responses to media queries about our membership number lies with me as chief executive.

“While there was no intent to mislead, I accept that this has been the outcome. I have therefore decided to confirm my intention to step down as chief executive with immediate effect.

“I had not planned to confirm this decision until after the leadership election.

READ MORE: SNP NEC 'has the numbers' for vote of no confidence in Peter Murrell

“However, as my future has become a distraction from the campaign I have concluded that I should stand down now, so the party can focus fully on issues about Scotland’s future.

“The election contest is being run by the national secretary and I have had no role in it at any point.

“I am very proud of what has been achieved in my time as chief executive and of the part I have played in securing the electoral success the party has enjoyed over almost two decades.”

Earlier this week, it emerged that the party had lost 30,000 members in just over a year.

Mr Foote said that after speaking to the party’s HQ, he had issued responses to the media which had “serious issues” and he later decided there was a “serious impediment” to his role.

READ MORE: Ash Regan team discuss court action to pause SNP leadership contest

On Thursday, the party revealed membership as of February 15 this year was 72,186, having fallen from 103,884 in 2021.

This corroborated a story in the Sunday Mail in February around the SNP losing 30,000 members, something Mr Foote had strongly denied at the time.

On Saturday, the Herald newspaper reported a senior member of the NEC said: “We have the numbers. There’s not a hope in hell that Peter can survive a no confidence motion.”

This week, two of the candidates to replace Ms Sturgeon, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan, raised concerns about the integrity of the election.

However Health Secretary Humza Yousaf, widely viewed as the favourite for the top job among the party hierarchy, dismissed these as “baseless smears”.

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Ms Regan said: “Eight years ago was the point where it was unacceptable to have the husband of the party leader as the CEO.

“I am encouraged to see the democratic foundations of the party now asserting their rightful function.

“The SNP is more than capable of surviving this, as long as we stick true to our roots, and we uphold the values of our members.”

Earlier, SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes had acknowledged “extraordinary turmoil” in the party.

Mr Yousaf praised the outgoing chief executive as “an outstanding servant of the independence movement”.

The Health Secretary said: “I agree with Peter that it is time for him to move on and make way for a new leader to appoint a new chief executive as passionate about the SNP and the cause of independence as he has been.

“With less than ten days to go in this leadership contest, it is vital we all focus on the policies and vision we have for the party, movement and country.”

Meanwhile, the SNP’s political opponents highlighted that the party’s finances are still being investigated.