A Fife MSP under pressure to stand down after being expelled from his political party has steadfastly vowed to stay on in the Scottish Parliament.
Bill Walker, who is MSP for the Dunfermline West constituency, was suspended last month in the wake of Sunday newspaper claims concerning his three former wives.
Things went from bad to worse over the Easter weekend when it emerged the SNP had decided to throw him out of the party, seemingly leaving the 70-year-old’s political career in tatters.
But speaking to The Courier on Sunday, Mr Walker remained defiant and has pledged to represent his constituents as an independent at Holyrood.
He insisted he has been the victim of a ”smear campaign” designed to discredit him and, asked if he would step down as MSP, he replied: ”Absolutely not.”
Mr Walker added: ”I am definitely continuing as MSP and shall resist any calls for me to stand down. I have had dozens of messages of support by email, by text and by phone from people across Dunfermline.
”People have been offering me their support as a potential victim of a smear campaign. I will continue to do my best for the people of Dunfermline at the Scottish Parliament.”
Mr Walker also denied the allegations he had abused his spouses and said he had ”fully complied” with SNP procedures prior to becoming a parliamentary candidate.
Referring to the domestic abuse allegations, he said: ”I deny the accusations made against me. They are unproven and untested and never got to court.”
He added that ”99%” of the allegations about his personal life were unfounded.
Mr Walker has the right to appeal the party’s decision but is still fully entitled to remain at Holyrood as an independent MSP for another four years, collecting around £230,000 in total salary in the process.
Just hours after the SNP hierarchy took its decision, calls for Mr Walker to resign his seat which would ultimately force a by-election began to grow, with many Labour politicians in particular believing he should step down from public life altogether.
Thomas Docherty, MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, reckons the time is right for Mr Walker to quit.
”I welcome the fact that the SNP leadership have belatedly taken some action but Bill Walker should resign immediately,” he told The Courier.