SNP’s string of quitters ‘puts vetting process under scrutiny’

THE SNP is in “chaos” it has been claimed as the party limps into the Scottish Parliament Election next year.

- By Douglas Dickie

The Nationalists lost a third confirmed MSP candidate over the weekend, and its chief executive quit as well, leading to the third different appointment in just 12 months.

John Swinney is presiding over a divided party after his independence plans were subject to criticism and scrutiny.

He faces a vital vote on this policy at the SNP conference next month, and if he loses then he will face humiliation at just his second summit as leader.

But the run up to the conference has already been fraught with difficulties with scandals rocking the SNP.

The First Minister lost a member of his Scottish Government in Jamie Hepburn who quit before facing a ministerial code probe after he allegedly assaulted former Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross. Then, Mr Swinney’s nightmare weekend was compounded further as the SNP’s Dumbarton candidate, Math Campbell-Sturgess quit after being found to have used swinging websites.

He was hoping to unseat Labour’s Dame Jackie Baillie but the Nats will have to scrabble around for a replacement.