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SNP MP Angus MacNeil suspended following clash with chief whip

UK Parliament Angus MacNeilUK Parliament
SNP MP Angus MacNeil has had the whip removed for a week, according to party sources

SNP MP Angus MacNeil has been suspended following a row with the party's chief whip.

It is alleged Mr MacNeil threatened Brendan O'Hara in Parliament on Monday evening.

It was said to have come during a clash between the pair over Mr McNeil missing votes in the House of Commons.

SNP sources confirmed to BBC Scotland that he has had the whip removed for a week.

The Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles) MP denied making threats.

He told BBC Scotland news: "At no point was a threat made nor were expletives used, there was a strong plea to stop sending me these letters."

Mr MacNeil went on to say that he accepted the decision made by SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn.

"Stephen has his views and I have mine, but as leader he has his own pressures to balance and I accept the decision he has taken," he said.

Mr MacNeil is one of the SNP's longest-serving MPs, having first been elected in 2005.

He has been a vocal critic of the party leadership in recent years, particularly over its independence strategy.

On Tuesday, Mr MacNeil had urged his Twitter followers to "always stand up to bullies", especially "any abusing their positions" but did not specify who the comment was targeted at.

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The MP, who won with a majority of 2,438 in 2019, is among several SNP parliamentarians facing a tough fight to retain his seat at the next general election, which is expected to be held next year.

Recent polls have suggested that Scottish Labour could make significant gains, with former Daily Record Westminster editor Torcuil Crichton set to stand for the party in Na h-Eileanan an Iar.

Six of MacNeil's party colleagues have announced they will step down at the next election.

The latest, 28-year-old Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP Mhairi Black, described Westminster as an "outdated, sexist and toxic" working environment.

Former SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford had already announced he will not be seeking re-election.

Party colleagues Peter Grant, Angela Crawley, Douglas Chapman and Stewart Hosie are also set to quit.

UK Parliament Stephen Flynn at PMQsUK Parliament
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has removed the party whip from Angus MacNeil for a week

Mr O'Hara, MP for Argyll and Bute, was appointed chief whip in January after Martin Docherty-Hughes quit the role after just six weeks, citing difficulties with time commitments demanded of him.

The chief whip is tasked with ensuring MPs attend Parliament and vote along party lines.

Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said: "The scandal-ridden SNP are clearly in a state of open warfare, with personal feuds spilling into public."

He added: "It's telling that Angus MacNeil has been suspended by the leadership for a fallout with the chief whip, yet Nicola Sturgeon retains the whip - contrary to party precedent - despite having been arrested."

Ms Sturgeon, the former first minister and SNP leader, was arrested and released without charge as part of a Police Scotland probe into SNP finances. She said she is "absolutely certain" she has done nothing wrong.

First Minister Humza Yousaf has said he saw "no reason" to suspend a party member who has been released without charge.