SNP members have been warned to use internal rules to settle disputes amid a war between rival party factions in North Lanarkshire.

Partick Grady, the SNP's national secretary and a Glasgow MP, said it had been "regrettable" that branch meetings and other activities have been suspended in some parts of the country as he issued a call for unity based on a common goal of independence.

Some SNP members in Uddingston and Bellshill have been plotting to remove MSP Richard Lyle as a candidate at May's election while the selection of Fulton MacGregor, standing in Coatbridge and Chryston, has also proved controversial.

A civil war in the area erupted after councillor Julie McAnulty, an SNP list candidate, was accused of making a racist comment by a staff member of Mr Lyle, leading to her suspension from the party.

Allies of Ms McAnulty strongly believe she has been the victim of a smear campaign from a cabal dubbed the "Monklands McMafia", and have said they they will refuse to vote for Mr Lyle, let alone campaign for him.

A series of rows in the area have also broken out over the structure of the SNP locally, with some favouring breaking up branches following a post-referendum influx in members but calls being opposed by established power brokers in some places.

Mr Grady, making his intervention in his report to the SNP conference, said: "I have stressed the importance of branches and members respecting our internal democratic processes and using the structures and options available in branch rules to deal with any disputes or disagreements at branch level.

"All members are required by the code of conduct to respect democratic decisions made regarding the election of office bearers, the structure of local branches, and the selection of candidates.

"Our party is run on a voluntary basis, and relies on the goodwill and mutual respect of members towards one another, and a united determination to see Scotland become an independent country, for our continued success."

Meanwhile, at the conference, SNP business convenor Derek Mackay brushed aside a rebellion over an agenda that was branded "self congratulatory" and "complacent" as the event kicked off, with some unhappy that several important issues were omitted.

Delegate Malcolm Kerr hit out at the party's powerful Standing Orders and Agenda Committee, winning a huge round of applause after saying: "I have been attending conference since the 1970s, and it pains me to say this, but this conference is beginning to resemble the Labour Party in the Tony Blair years."

Mr Mackay did not allow a vote on the agenda, instead asking delegates for support and moving swiftly on after receiving some applause.