AN SNP MSP has sparked a civil war inside his party by backing the destruction of treasured greenbelt land in the Labour marginal he hopes to win at Holyrood.

Leaked files show many SNP members are livid that Central Scotland list MSP Richard Lyle is supporting a massive rail freight depot at Mossend in Lanarkshire.

The £260m scheme, which was opposed by 1000 residents, will destroy 60 acres of fields in the last significant area of greenbelt north of Bellshill.

Local SNP activists fear Lyle now faces a voter backlash as the candidate in Uddingston & Bellshill, where Labour MSP Michael McMahon opposes the development.

Lyle, 65, is already embroiled in a row over claims of alleged vote-rigging at an SNP meeting he chaired earlier this month which was suspended after it descended into chaos.

The greenbelt row erupted after the SNP government overruled official advice to approve a proposal from logistics firm PD Stirling to expand Mossend railhead into a freight super-hub.

Advocates, including Lyle, argue the scheme could bring around 3000 jobs by 2030.

But the plan is deeply controversial - North Lanarkshire Council rejected it outright because it would harm the greenbelt, and when PD Stirling appealed, the government’s own planning reporter also opposed it and warned it threatened jobs at other freight operations.

However in a highly unusual move, Scottish ministers overruled the reporter to approve the expansion regardless, arguing it was of “national significance”.

The decision was signed off by Lyle’s political ally, the Communities Secretary Alex Neil.

Now leaked files from an online SNP discussion group have revealed many party members fear Lyle’s stance will help McMahon defend his 714-vote majority in May.

Many said they were "disgusted" at the Mossend plan.

“I wouldn’t broadcast any involvement!” wrote one earlier this month. “The SNP will probably take a hit next year because of it as it is…. Many people will be unhappy that one of their MSPs was in support of it. In the interest of votes next year, maybe don’t highlight it.”

A second warned: “The SNP will lose local support, and our leadership will look like dictators”.

A third said: “A definite vote loser rather than vote winner.”

A fourth added: “This is wrong and will not be welcomed. I want an SNP win but this could make things more difficult. Michael McMahon will be loving this… Voters don’t forget.”

However Rab Harkins, who is on Lyle’s 2016 election campaign, applauded the MSP for having “petitioned” the Government on the plan, adding: “If I thought it could create 1000 extra jobs, I’d turn Strathclyde Park into a car park. Why? Because with work comes dignity, with dignity comes pride, with pride comes independence.”

Another Lyle supporter demanded members toe the party line: “The decision has been made, it’s time to back the party and show a united front! As party rules state, you cannot publicly go against the party.”

That prompted the reply: “Parties that don’t listen to people end up like Labour.”

McMahon said: “This was a disgraceful decision which I fully intend to hold the SNP to account over. It is detrimental to the local community and the SNP are wholly responsible. If Richard Lyle thinks otherwise, it just shows how out of touch he is.”

Lyle refused to comment on the internal feud. In a statement issued through SNP headquarters, he said: "I support the Mossend Railhead development - and look forward to the creation of thousands of jobs that will be of great economic benefit to this area."