ANGRY SNP members in Lanarkshire have urged party HQ to investigate the conduct of their local MSP after a branch meeting he oversaw descended into acrimony and chaos.
The Sunday Herald understands around ten complaints have been lodged about the behaviour of Central Scotland MSP Richard Lyle after rowdy scenes on August 13.
Lyle was forced to suspend the monthly SNP meeting at Bellshill Academy after some party members turned against him, others walked out, and a fight almost erupted.
Witnesses report Lyle being called “a f***ing liar”, and his daughter being left in tears.
Emotions boiled over after a vote on the fate of £750 held for safekeeping by the branch which was originally intended for a Hope Over Fear event that had been cancelled.
Some in the branch wanted the money spent on a new event being held by Hope Over Fear, the pro-Independence movement linked to Solidarity leader Tommy Sheridan.
However Lyle said the money would stay with the SNP.
When the issue went to a vote, witnesses say Lyle counted 29 on each side, then used his casting vote as branch convener to keep the money with the SNP.
Phil Boswell, the newly elected SNP MP for Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill, then conducted a recount which showed a clear majority opposed to Lyle.
One witness told the Sunday Herald: “When the recount came in, people started calling Richard Lyle a f*** liar, and saying it was a f***ing disgrace. Some people walked out. It looked like an orchestrated walk-out by Lyle’s supporters.
“Then someone started shoving their finger in a councillor’s face, and they squared up to each other. There were no punches thrown, but at that stage someone called the police.”
Lyle, 65, a close ally of cabinet secretary Alex Neil, was elected as a list MSP in 2011.
He was recently selected as the SNP’s candidate in Labour-held Uddingston & Bellshill.
Asked about complaints sent to SNP national secretary Patrick Grady, a party spokesman said: “This is an internal branch matter.”
Lyle could not be contacted last night.
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