AN SNP chief has suggested that members speculating about a candidate who was denied a Holyrood run because of a “kangaroo court ruling” should quit the party.
Toni Giugliano’s departure from the Falkirk West selection contest was triggered at the 11th hour after he was accused of misconduct, believed to be an accusation of bullying.
His rival Gary Bouse will contest the seat at next year’s Scottish Parliament election.
But Giugliano's expulsion from the race has sparked claims he was pushed out by SNP chiefs.
Now, the party’s national secretary Alex Kerr (below, right) has written to members urging them not to speculate on the circumstances of the case – warning that doing so could make them fall foul of internal rules.
In an email first reported by The Scottish Sun, Kerr said that he would not get into the reasons for suspending Giugliano, who has ran unsuccessfully for a number of SNP seats in the past, saying only that a “process was followed”.
He noted that there were local rumours that a campaign had been orchestrated to frustrate Giugliano's bid, but said this was “a blatant misrepresentation of the facts”.
Kerr said: “Anyone perpetrating this myth, and seeking to apportion ‘blame’ on any individual for the outcome of a disciplinary hearing has most likely breached the member code of conduct themselves."
The top SNP officer said that “rules and procedures will not always lead to conclusions we like", and added: “If anyone cannot accept them then perhaps they need to reconsider whether they can be a member of an organisation that acts for all of its members, and not just for those that we have personal regard.”
A Falkirk SNP source told The Scottish Sun: “Alex Kerr is lashing out at local members because we won't accept his kangaroo court ruling.
"He's now threatening us with disciplinary action if we don't accept his decision. What on earth has the SNP turned into?
"Kerr's contempt for local members is astounding – this is the sort of stuff we expect from the Tories, not the SNP.
"What on earth was HQ thinking, excluding a candidate who was about to win – did they think we'd all go along with it?
"This selection result carries no legal or political weight and it will be challenged.
"They've made a situation a hundred times worse – Alex Kerr needs to recognise this and offer his resignation.”
A source close to Giugliano added: “Toni was booted out for having a conversation – witnessed by three other people – where he expressed a different point of view. If he’d chosen not to stand this complaint would never have seen the light of day.”
The SNP said: “Any internal disciplinary matters are dealt with in a manner that is confidential to the parties concerned.”
