Is Alex Salmond behind the SNP’s implosion?

Only six weeks ago the Scottish National Party seemed unchallengeable. Its leader, Nicola Sturgeon dominated Scottish politics at every level, was fêted by the metropolitan liberal elite and feared by Tory ministers in WhatsApp messages. Now she’s history, her party is in chaos and her key lieutenants including her husband, chief executive Peter Murrell, have fallen on their swords.

One of Europe’s most successful political parties, which until recently threatened to break up Britain, has now broken itself in the most spectacular fashion. It’s hard to think of anything outside political fiction that equates to the self-inflicted misfortune that has engulfed the SNP since Sturgeon resigned, out of the blue, on Wednesday 15 February. 

Sturgeon’s deputy, John Swinney, followed her out the door. Her closest adviser, Liz Lloyd, resigned last week, having been criticised for assisting the campaign of the leadership favourite, Humza Yousaf. The SNP head of communications, respected former newspaper editor Murray Foote, departed after he had quoted membership figures supplied by party officials which turned out to be untrue.