A prominent SNP activist is plotting a potential leadership challenge against Humza Yousaf.
Chris Hanlon, the secretary of a Fife branch of the party, on Sunday tweeted a picture of nomination forms for the SNP leadership.
Alongside the image – which he described as a “petition for SNP members” – he said: “The job of party leader is to implement party policy, all of party policy, and nothing but party policy. Party policy is decided by conference.
“If, like me, you are concerned that leadership spends too much time pontificating about what they claim party policy is rather than waiting for members to decide or telling journalists that the decision hasn’t been made yet and that questions about the specific details of the independence election will have to wait till conference, I’d like to hear from you.”
He added: “I haven’t made any decisions but if you feel, as I do, that feet need to be held to the fire, please comment below.
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“Humza Yousaf promised to listen, I think we should make it clear that his position is conditional on living up to that promise.”
It is understood leadership positions within the SNP are available ahead of the party’s annual conference and 100 nominations are required from 20 different branches for a candidate to run.
An SNP source said: “Every member has a right to put themselves forward for party positions – no matter the odds of prevailing.”
It is the latest sign of division within the crisis-hit SNP which has seen discipline fall apart since Nicola Sturgeon’s sudden resignation in February.
Mr Yousaf only narrowly won the bitter leadership contest to replace Ms Sturgeon.
His premiership has been rocked by a police investigation into the SNP’s finances which has seen the arrest of three party figures including the former leader.
They were released without charge pending further investigation and Ms Sturgeon denies any wrongdoing.
The chaos has seen the nationalist party drop in the polls and eight MPs have so far announced they will not stand at the next general election.
Earlier this month, Angus MacNeil had the party whip removed and his membership suspended after blasting the party as “clueless” about independence.
