Fife MSP still awaits fate

A beleaguered Fife MSP is still waiting to hear when an appeal over his expulsion from the SNP will be held.

It was confirmed last month that four-times-married Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker will fight to clear his name after being kicked out by the Nationalists amid allegations of domestic abuse.

A BELEAGURED Fife MSP is still waiting to hear when an appeal over his expulsion from the SNP will be held.

It was confirmed last month that four-times-married Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker will fight to clear his name after being kicked out by the Nationalists amid allegations of domestic abuse.

The party says Mrwalker failed to properly inform officials of the allegations made by three ex-wives in divorce papers over a period of four decades.

The SNP yesterday confirmed that the defiant politician, who continues to sit at Holyrood as an independent, has now lodged a statement in support of the appeal but failed to clarify when it would be held.

A spokeswoman said: “Mr Walker has submitted his appeal statement. This has now been passed to the party’s appeals committee, which will convene in due course. It would be inappropriate to comment further until this appeals process is at an end.”

The call will increase pressure on the SNP, which has come under scrutiny for its dealings with Mr Walker amid revelations that the office of deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon was warned about his character as far back as 2008.

It emerged last month that party officials were told of the politician’s alleged behaviour by the brotherin-law of Mr Walker’s third wife, Rob Armstrong, who requested a meeting with Ms Sturgeon.

He did not meet the deputy SNP leader personally, but was assured the concerns would be passed on to party headquarters.

However, no action was taken and Mr Walker — who was then a Fife councillor — was subsequently accepted as the SNP’S candidate for the Dunfermline seat at Holyrood.

Mr Walker (70) denies all the claims and insists he is a victim of smears.