An MSP is facing allegations of “bullying” members of his own party and trying to force senior colleagues out of jobs.
Kirkcaldy representative David Torrance forcefully denied all the accusations levelled against him by two whistleblowers within the SNP group in Fife.
Sources claimed an internal row led to Mr Torrance telling Marie Penman he would “get in 150 sleepers and vote you out” of her position as local chairwoman.
One insider said: “I am a long standing and active member of the SNP and am appalled by the actions and standard shown by David Torrance, a man who I campaigned for and now regret it.
“Our excellent chairperson, Mrs Marie Penman, who is also the local Yes coordinator, refused to follow Mr Torrance’s instructions, not a request but instructions, not made by the branch but by the MSP himself.
“Mr Torrance, without any involvement of the branch, asked Mrs Penman to resign as the chairperson, which she declined to do.”
The insider added: “Mrs Penman did however advise the branch of this request and the political officer Dr Bob Purdie, an ally of the MSP, shouted down the meeting: ‘That the forum was not appropriate and that a special AGM was required and the topic should not have been mentioned at a normal branch meeting’.
“At the end of the meeting, quite a few members overheard Mr Torrance say to the chairperson: ‘We will have an AGM and I will get in 150 sleepers and vote you out’.
“This poor standard of behaviour is just pure bullying.”
It is understood Mrs Penman has not attended a branch meeting since the alleged fall-out on June 10.
A gathering has been arranged for September 23 where insiders said, with the independence referendum done and dusted, they expected the situation to come to a head.
A source also claimed the SNP’s deputy chief executive, Shirley-Anne Somerville, was at the meeting where Mrs Penman was asked to resign and is aware of the issue.
Mr Torrance said: “Marie Penman is still the chair of our branch. I don’t know where this has come from.
“No, I’ve not had any disagreements with Marie Penman. I think they (the whistle-blowers) are making it up. I just wonder where it is coming from.”
Mrs Penman declined to comment when contacted by The Courier.
An SNP spokesman said: “Shirley-Anne Somerville attended the meeting but did not hear any such comment being made.”