THE SNP in Glasgow is snubbing a new campaign group against welfare changes, amid claims it is a front for shamed socialist leader Tommy Sheridan.
Nationalist councillors are boycotting the All Scotland Anti-Bedroom Tax Federation over fears Sheridan and his supporters have hijacked the body.
The former Glasgow MSP, 49, was jailed in 2011 after being found guilty of perjury relating to evidence about visiting a swingers' club in Manchester.
Billy McAllister, the SNP deputy group leader on the council, said the Federation had no credibility: "You can't trust a liar, and that's what Tommy is."
In April, the Tory-led Government's policy of cutting housing benefit for people with a spare bedroom came into force, with tenants losing up to 25% of their payments.
However, the campaign against the welfare change has been marred by divisions.
An "interim" West of Scotland protest group was set up earlier this year, but fell apart after activists clashed over Sheridan's involvement.
After the interim committee folded, the All Scotland Anti-Bedroom Tax Federation was then formed under Sheridan's chairmanship.
Almost all of the office bearers are Sheridan supporters: press officer Kenny Ross; vice chair Angela McCormick; and secretary Luke Ivory.
The dominance of Sheridan's allies on the Federation has alarmed other anti-bedroom tax opponents, who believe him to be a hugely divisive figure.
McAllister told an internet show last week that he is alarmed by Sheridan's presence: "Tommy is in it for his own ego and his own political career to be rehabilitated.
"Tommy and the Solidarity movement have hijacked this and will continue to try to hijack it."
He also accused Sheridan of having a God-complex: "Tommy is certainly not God or Jesus Christ, riding into town...[but] Tommy thinks he is. The only thing missing from Tommy is the sandals."
McAllister added: "It's a shambolic movement, which Tommy instigated and organised so he could be chair."
Addressing Sheridan, he said: "Your ego is out of control and I would urge you to walk away now."
McAllister recommended a boycott of the Federation at the last group meeting of SNP councillors in Glasgow, a proposal that was met with no dissent.
The SNP group will instead back local campaigns set up to oppose the bedroom tax.
McAllister said: "At the group meeting, I raised that we should not be supporting or going to anti-bedroom tax meetings with Tommy Sheridan. The same message has gone out to our MSPs."
He said he had also clashed with one of Sheridan's supporters at an anti-cuts meeting, a disagreement that led to him being interviewed by police.
Sean Clerkin, spokesman for Citizens United Against Public Service Cuts, also hit out at Sheridan's involvement: "The whole anti-bedroom-tax campaign is in danger of imploding because of the involvement of Tommy Sheridan. He should step down and step away from politics."
The snub is the latest setback for Sheridan as he tries to regain credibility.
After the BBC gave him air-time last year to talk about independence, SNP Finance Secretary John Swinney blasted: "Is it just me, or is anyone else surprised that, miraculously, in the midst of the SNP conference, the BBC have managed to provide a platform for the rehabilitation of Tommy Sheridan as an independence advocate?
"A man who has no political credibility whatsoever."
The Sunday Herald left messages for Sheridan and the Federation spokesman, but they did not respond.
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