Scottish National Party chief executive quits after membership numbers dispute

FILE PHOTO: SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell arrives to give evidence to a Scottish Parliament committee in Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain December 8, 2020. Andy Buchanan/Pool via REUTERS

LONDON (Reuters) -The chief executive of the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP), Peter Murrell, said on Saturday that he was resigning with immediate effect after accepting blame for the public being misled about the number of SNP members.

"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," Murrell said in a statement issued by the party.