SNP faces biggest challenge in 20 years, says Sturgeon's ex-chief of staff

Liz Lloyd said the SNP had to convince people it had recovered following Nicola Sturgeon's resignation last year

Nicola Sturgeon's former chief of staff has said the SNP faces its biggest challenge in 20 years as it tries "to get its act together".

Liz Lloyd said the party "still has some way to go" to convince people it has recovered from Ms Sturgeon's resignation as leader in March 2023.

She said it faced the problem of Labour being seen as a credible UK government.

But she insisted First Minister Humza Yousaf had the opportunity to prove he has the leadership qualities required.

The SNP said it was "looking forward to offering people a positive vision for the future" at the next general election.

Ms Lloyd told the BBC's World at One programme: "This is probably the hardest year the party has faced since maybe 2004/2005.

"It needs to switch the narrative in Scotland from one of Labour gaining to one of the SNP fighting back - and being seen to credibly fight back.

"It is very much struggling to get its own message across. It has an opportunity. There is time ahead of a general election to do that but it needs to do that really quickly."

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Ms Lloyd was Nicola Sturgeon's closest aide until she stood down as first minister and SNP leader after more than eight years in the role.

Ms Sturgeon insisted at the time her decision was not in response to the "latest period of pressure", which has included controversies over gender reforms, trans prisoners and the strategy on independence.

Humza Yousaf succeeded Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader and first minister in March last year

She said that support for independence needed to be "solidified" and to grow further.

Her resignation sparked a leadership contest which was eventually won by Humza Yousaf.

In his first speech as leader, Mr Yousaf called on the party to unite behind him after what had often been a fractious contest.

Liz Lloyd said there were still "small rumblings" within the SNP, although Mr Yousaf faced no immediate challenge to his leadership.

"Humza Yousaf has had nine months to clear the decks of policies that were left over from the Nicola Sturgeon time - issues which were causing him difficulty," she said.

"He now has, ahead of the election, an opportunity to say 'this is my agenda, this is what I'm about' - and deliver on it so that people can make a judgement on it."

She added: "I think they need to look at making some changes - maybe a small reshuffle - things that put the SNP back on the front foot which it very much hasn't been for the last nine months."

'Opportunity for change'

Ms Lloyd also said she accepted the SNP faced a further challenge amid a growing perception that Sir Keir Starmer's Labour party could win the next Westminster general election.

"What's working for Labour at the moment is that there is a perception that Keir Starmer will be able to form a government," she said.

"And so it's less about what policies Labour are putting forward or the credibility of the Labour party in Scotland.

"It's more about, how do we make sure we don't have a Conservative government any more.

"People tend to look to see if there's an opportunity for change - that opportunity wasn't there in 2015, 2017 and 2019 and they may think it is this time."

An SNP spokesperson said: "With neither the Tories or Labour offering any alternative for people across Scotland being forced to pay the cost of a failing Westminster system and Broken Brexit economy, the SNP is focused on continuing to deliver for communities and businesses across Scotland with the limited powers at our disposal.

"As we approach the next general election, the SNP is looking forward to offering people a positive vision for the future and the chance to elect hard working SNP MPs who will always put Scotland's priorities first."

Meanwhile, Ms Lloyd said Ms Sturgeon was "doing fine" after moving to the backbenches at Holyrood.

She said: "She is hiding away writing her book - but she is in parliament and is doing fine."