A former senior Tayside councillor who quit the SNP has said he would rejoin the party if it became more democratic.
Ewan Dow, who was once the most powerful elected Nationalist in Scotland, said in an online post Nicola Sturgeon’s supporters now “resemble a cult with selfies”.
Perth-based Mr Dow has not renewed his membership this year, claiming major policies are being forced on the party from the leadership without the debate that would have happened in years gone by.
But he told The Courier: “We really need the involvement of the membership and general public, taking policy decisions through grass roots rather than purely ministers and civil servants, who have the time but not a monopoly on wisdom.
“That would encourage me to come back.”
Mr Dow was leader of the Tayside regional council from 1994, arguably making him the party’s most successful politician until Alex Salmond became First Minister.
He raised a particular concern about the currency union the party backed in its white paper for an independent Scotland. He was also critical of the income tax policy, preferring the Greens’ higher rate, and the continued link between local taxation and property value.
In a Facebook post, he added: “Forbye that I actually have a concern these days that since the referendum the relationship between the enlarged party and the leadership now more resembles a cult with selfies, with the leadership more important than policy debates to many members.”
And the former member of the disciplinary panel savaged the “cybernats” who peddle abuse online.
He expressed his “desire not to be associated with the many supporters and/or members of the party to whom a basic grasp of reality, civility or indeed rational thought seems completely foreign”.
Mr Dow wrote: “Absolutely barmy and I frankly don’t want anything to do with people like that. If it’s not nonsense like that, it’s bullying of opponents, the press, et cetera.
“Now the No camp have just as many people who frankly should go nowhere near the internet but then I don’t have to share the same membership card with them.”
He also urged the SNP hierarchy to investigate claims of abuse and find out if those pedalling it were party members.
An SNP spokesman said: “We are sorry that he has made this decision, but understand he has personal reasons for doing so and wish him well for the future.”
Meanwhile, Mr Dow also criticised the SNP’s running of Perth and Kinross Council.
He said the administration were performing below par, leading to local Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser to claim the Nationalists are in “chaos” in Perthshire.
But Mr Dow hit back: “Unlike Murdo I have at least won a democratic election. There is certainly not chaos in the party locally.
“I think our management of Perth and Kinross Council has not been as sharp as it could have been. It would be chaos if the Tories were running the council, though.”
Mr Fraser said: “By firing such a public broadside at a party he has been a member of since 1991 Euan Dow’s resignation should act as a wake-up call to the SNP. As a former council leader his criticism of the party comes from a position of respect.
“This incident underlines what we have known for some time, the SNP are in freefall in Perth and Kinross, focussed more on a second independence referendum than putting forth meaningful policies.”
