THE First Minister has claimed over 5,000 new members joined the party since the group walked out of Westminster yesterday.

READ MORE: SNP Westminster leader defends PMQs walkout

Nicola Sturgeon stated the party had welcomed 5,085 new members during Thursday's First Minister's Questions.

The spike in membership follows the SNP group walking out of the House of Commons in protest at the paltry time given to debate the Tory Westminster power grab on Tuesday.

Nicola Sturgeon said she was “right behind” Ian Blackford and accused Westminster of treating Scotland with “contempt”.