MP Suspended By SNP

MP Angus MacNeil’s membership of the SNP was suspended today after he refused to rejoin the party’s Westminster group and criticised the party’s approach in its pursuit for Scotland’s independence from the UK.

The MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles) later said he would not seek to rejoin the group until at least October, accusing the party of a lack of urgency on its goal of Scottish independence.

He said the Scottish Government was “utterly clueless about how to pursue independence” since losing the Indyref2 case at the Supreme Court.

“I will only seek the SNP whip again if it is clear that the SNP are pursuing independence,” he added. “At the moment, the SNP has become a brand name missing the key ingredient. The urgency for independence is absent.”

Mr MacNeil has now been administratively suspended while the party’s member conduct committee considers his decline of the offer to re-join.

An SNP spokesman said: “Angus MacNeil MP was advised by the SNP National Secretary on Wednesday that she considered him to be in breach of the party’s code of conduct by his decision to resign from the SNP Westminster parliamentary group.

“Having acknowledged this, Mr MacNeil did not take up the offer to rejoin the SNP parliamentary group and the matter was, therefore, yesterday referred to the SNP member conduct committee for consideration.”