Former newspaper editor Murray Foote is step down as chief executive of the SNP as the party embarks on preparing for the Scottish Parliament election in 2026.

First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney paid tribute to Mr Foote, who confirmed his intention to step down.

Mr Swinney said: “Murray Foote has made a significant contribution to the work of the Scottish National Party during his time as chief executive, playing a key role in strengthening the SNP's headquarters functions and supporting the party as a formidable national organisation.

“When I became leader of the SNP, I promised to deliver a professional, modern, dynamic election-winning organisation - and Murray’s successor will build on the work he has started.

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“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Murray for his commitment and dedication to the Scottish National Party, and to independence, and I wish he and his family all the best for the future.”

Mr Foote said: “The SNP has recently embarked on a substantial process of internal re-organisation and renewal to better equip it for current electoral contests and to prepare for the critical Scottish Parliament elections in 2026.

“While I agree these changes are both essential and appropriate, I also recognised after a period of reflection that I could not make the necessary personal commitment to leading the delivery of these changes into 2026 and beyond.

“In the circumstances, I concluded it would be in my best interests and the best interests of the party that I step down to give my replacement the time and space to mould and develop these changes in a manner they deem appropriate.

“I offer my very best wishes to both my successor and to colleagues at party HQ. I will always be grateful for the privilege of holding this post for the past 14 months and I stand ready to offer any assistance requested of me.

“I also believe that in First Minister John Swinney, our party has the right leader at the right time to advance the cause of Scottish independence and I look to the future with renewed optimism as I support him in that cause.”

Mr Foote will stay in his role for the foreseeable future and help with the transition to a new chief executive.

The SNP National Executive Committee will meet on Saturday (19th October) to confirm next steps.

Mr Foote, the former editor of the Daily Record, was appointed as the SNP's chief executive in August last year.

He resigned from his previous role as the party's head of communications in March that year amid a row over the party's membership numbers.

He had described a newspaper report that membership numbers had dropped by 30,000 as "drivel", but it was later confirmed the figure was correct.

He replaced Peter Murrell the husband of the former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Mr Murrell stood down as SNP chief executive early that March after taking responsibility for misleading the media.

In April this year Mr Murrell was charged in connection with the embezzlement of funds from the SNP.

The following month it was reported that Police Scotland has submitted its report to prosecutors in relation to the charges.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Scotland’s public prosecution service, will decide if there is enough evidence to prosecute Mr Murrell who was chief executive of the SNP for 22 years.

The SNP lost 39 seats at the general election on July 4, seeing the number of its MPs fall from the 48 elected in 2019 to nine. Scottish Labour gained 36 seats from the SNP, adding to the one the party won in 2019.

A proud Dundonian, Mr Foote worked for papers in his home city, in Aberdeen and for the Herald’s sister paper, the Glasgow Evening Times, before joining the Daily Record in 1991.

He worked at the Labour-supporting tabloid for 23 years before finally becoming its editor in early 2014, when the independence referendum campaign was in full swing.

Mr Foote who was behind one of the biggest interventions in the campaign on behalf of the Union.

On the final weekend before the nation cast its vote, a Sunday Times poll put Yes narrowly ahead for the first time, causing panic in the No camp.

Mr Foote and Gordon Brown, an old friend of the Record, drew up “The Vow” and put it on the front page two days before September 18.

Intended to offer No voters something more than just the status quo, it promised but “extensive new powers” for Holyrood if Scotland remained in the Union.  

It also declared Holyrood was permanent and would have the final say on NHS spending.

It was signed by the then Conervative Prime Minister David Cameron, his Liberal Democrat deputy PM Nick Clegg and then Labour leader Ed Miliband.

“A No vote will deliver faster, safer and better change than separation,” it concluded.