Nicola Sturgeon was accused yesterday of breaching the ministerial code of conduct by opposing a controversial council-backed plan to build a woodland adventure course in a historic public park.

Nicola Sturgeon was accused yesterday of breaching the ministerial code of conduct by opposing a controversial council-backed plan to build a woodland adventure course in a historic public park.

The Deputy First Minister was accused of "failing to remain neutral" over a planning application which will ultimately be decided by ministers, echoing concerns over the Donald Trump affair.

However, the MSP rebutted the accusations last night, saying she was "entitled to express the views of her constituents".

Ms Sturgeon spoke out against Go Ape's application to lease part of Pollok Park from Glasgow City Council for a high-wire assault course.

If passed, it is likely to be referred to the Scottish Government as the council has a financial interest.

In a letter to The Herald on Saturday, Ms Sturgeon stated her view that the site is "not the right place" for the course.

She called on the council to halt the application and re-run the public consultation exercise, which she had earlier described as "woeful".

But Councillor Stephen Curran, Labour member for Newlands/Auldburn, accused her of breaching the ministerial code of conduct "on three counts" to "curry favour" with voters.

He said: "Ministers must do nothing which might be seen as prejudicial to the planning process, particularly in advance of the decision being taken.

"Her letter to The Herald and other public utterances mean that she has a case to answer on breaching the Scottish Ministerial Code of conduct on three counts."

Mr Curran said the code "rightly allows ministers to represent their constituents on planning issues as local MSPs".

But he added that it "clearly states" that: personal opinion should be restricted to those cases in which ministers find it "unavoidable to express a view"; ministers are advised not to engage in controversy in correspondence columns of the press; and, where an article contains material which falls within the area of responsibility of another minister, that minister must be consulted.

Mr Curran said: "It seems Nicola Sturgeon just couldn't resist opposing this planning application to curry favour with objectors.

"She was rightly careful to express neither support nor opposition on the evening of the public meeting, but by Saturday her personal opinion was rushed into print on the newsstands."

Go Ape's proposal is due to be considered by Glasgow City Council's planning applications committee within the next two to three weeks.

Ms Sturgeon said: "As a local constituency MSP, under the ministerial code, I am entitled to express the views of my constituents. As their MSP, I am obliged to represent their views and I shall always do so.

"As the local MSP, I will have no involvement in any ministerial decision about this planning application. Instead of attacking me for representing my constituents, Mr Curran would do better to represent the views of his own."'