SNP infighting has continued as party members across Cunninghame North receive their ballots.

The process of selecting a candidate to stand for the SNP at the next Holyrood election has been plagued by accusations of rule-breaking and smear-tactics.

Hustings organised by SNP HQ went ahead on Sunday with two candidates refusing to take part.

Candidates were given 48 hours’ notice of the hustings, but Osama Bhutta, a former aide to Alex Salmond, and former-MP Corri Wilson issued a joint statement which said they would not share a platform with incumbent MSP Kenneth Gibson who faces ‘serious allegations’ of bullying.

Mr Gibson’s wife, MP Patricia Gibson, announced that there was no investigation into her husband following a statement by SNP National Secretary Angus MacLeod.

Mr MacLeod’s statement, read out at the beginning of the hustings, said: “Since 2017, an external solicitor has been available to note any statement from anyone affected by the behaviour of SNP members.

“They do not investigate any facts, let alone come to any conclusion on any information provided to them.

“Their role is to pass any information to me to allow me to take a view on whether a complaint should be subject to the SNP’s member conduct procedures.”

Dr Malcolm Kerr, branch organiser, said: “Any evaluation is the responsibility of the National Secretary and could lead to referral to the Member Conduct Committee.

“It is therefore incorrect for Patricia Gibson to say ‘there is no investigation into Kenneth Gibson MP’.”

Ms Wilson told the Herald: “I am disappointed that the National Secretary decided to take over the hustings.

“I am angry the National Secretary chose to send the members an email undermining my campaign and interfering, which is actually a breach of our constitutional rules.

“I am confident however that the Cunninghame North members will see through these shenanigans and do the right thing”

Mr Gibson said: “The hustings were organised by SNP HQ to ensure fairness to all and went very well.

“The other nominees showed contempt for local members by refusing to participate. Suggesting that ‘48 hours’ notice is unacceptable’ was a bit feeble. Everyone had the same notice and politics moves swiftly.

“Sadly, the other two nominees refuse to condemn the mendacious smears against me, obviously believing they cannot win on merit. SNP National Secretary Dr Angus Macleod, made it clear in an email to all members that the delay in the ballots going out was because of ‘so much traffic’ about this selection and for no other reason.

“Meanwhile, I am pleased to have my reselection endorsed by dozens of local members, activists, six Ayrshire SNP MPs and MSPs and three Cabinet Secretaries.

“If selected, one of my opponents will hope to do better than the 6.8 per cent he secured when standing in East Renfrewshire.

“The other, having been elected an MP in the big 2015 swing, proved incapable of defending a majority of 11,265 and of being re-selected in 2019, when Allan Dorans recaptured the seat for the SNP.

“One would have thought that those backing either of the other nominees would at least have undertaken a wee bit of research on them first.”