The SNP lost nearly a third of its membership over the last year, figures published today revealed.
Party bosses were forced to make the embarrassing admission after all three leadership candidates vying to replace Nicola Sturgeon demanded the figures be made public.
The figures were published just hours after Nicola Sturgeon stressed the party was not "in crisis" after Kate Forbes and Ash Regan demanded an independent auditor was brought in to scrutinise the leadership result.
The SNP disclosed the number of members - who will effectively decide who becomes the next First minister - was 72,186.
The total is down 31,698 from the last published count of 103,884 at the end of 2021, just over 14 months ago.
The SNP said today the total number of eligible ballots for the leadership contest did not include anyone who joined the party after February 15.
A spokeswoman added that membership numbers fluctuated on a month-by-month basis depending on a range of circumstances, which was why the party normally only published an end of year number within its annual accounts.
Michelle Thomson, Kate Forbes' campaign manager, said: "Whilst I’m pleased that common sense has prevailed with the publishing of the membership figures, the alarming drop in members shows that the party needs a change in direction.
"Kate Forbes is the candidate offering a new start for Scotland – continuity won’t cut it. We need candour on the challenges facing the party and government, but we also need competence to fix them.
"Kate will build on the SNP’s track record, whilst also recognising that it’s time for change."
Ash Regan said: "The SNP has a tradition of attracting independent minded and smart people who work together for Scotland. We've lost some good people and I want to see us build our membership numbers and attract people back to the party.
"The SNP I lead will recognise the hard work and dedication of our activists."
The Record asked Humza Yousaf at a campaign stop in Edinburgh today whether he was frustrated the membership numbers had not been published before now.
He said: "I think that's fair, it's a bit of an own goal, let's be honest.
"If I'm leader, I will publish it every single year, we have nothing to hide."
In a statement published after the figures were revealed, Yousaf said: "I'm pleased the SNP NEC has taken the right decision to release the party's membership - reaffirming that the SNP remains by far the biggest political party in Scotland.
"I trust this decision will also put to bed claims and hearsay that seek to undermine our party's integrity and benefits only our opposition.
"As a party, we now need a progressive leader who can command support - ensuring our membership are engaged in the future of the party as we look to unite, and strengthen, support for the SNP and the wider independence movement.
"With polling clearly demonstrating I am the SNP voters' favourite to become Scotland's next First Minister, I am the leader who can solidify our support and secure independence."
An SNP spokeswoman said: "After many years of delivering for people across Scotland and working towards a better future as an independent country, the SNP remains the biggest - and indeed the only mass membership - party in Scotland.
"We remain grateful to our large and committed membership for all their support which has done so much to fuel our electoral success."
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