SNP schism grows over online leaks

THE SNP was hit by infighting yesterday after members called for others in the party to be ‘shunned’ and ‘vilified’ over alleged online leaks.

Senior party members disclosed that they were seeking legal advice and have requested the help of SNP headquarters after posts from a private message board were made public.

It comes after Nationalist MP Dr Lisa Cameron received more than 1,000 abusive messages following a Commons vote on liberalising abortion laws in Northern Ireland. Dr Cameron voted against the move, and many of the abusive messages, which appeared on a private Facebook page, were made public.

Writing on the page, group administrator and former SNP convener for South Lanarkshire Bill Mills said that despite the page being ‘a closed and presumed confidential forum’ some ‘recent discussions have been disclosed to the press, along with details of party roles, past and present of some contributors’.

Mr Mills was among those to have his former party role and current voluntary position as an approved vetter for candidates disclosed after he said Dr Cameron should ‘quit’ as a Nationalist MP. In response, SNP member Bob Langford called for those responsible for the leaks to be ‘shunned and rightly vilified’.

A Scottish Tory spokesman said: ‘Over the last few weeks the internal warfare of the SNP has elevated to a whole new level. It’s no secret the SNP is split from top to bottom, but this is extreme.’