Suspension row hots up

Alex Salmond and Iain Blackford had worked closely

The row surrounding the suspension of Scottish National Party treasurer Ian Blackford is set to intensify.

The SNP's leadership had hoped to convince the party's rank and file and the public that peace had now been restored.

However, Mr Blackford says he will not let the issue lie and he has promised to clear his name and sue party leader Alex Salmond for defamation if necessary.

Kenny MacAskill: Acting treasurer

Acting treasurer, Lothian MSP Kenny MacAskill, and the SNP national secretary Stuart Hosie have written to party members in an attempt to diffuse the situation.

Party chiefs believed that the internal divisions would be brought to an end once Mr Blackford was suspended.

But the managing director of an international investment bank says many ordinary members are incensed by the way he has been treated and they feel he has been denied natural justice.

Mr Blackford said that members are questioning how the party's national council can unanimously support his attempts to tackle the SNP's financial problems one minute and criticise his attempts the next.

'Not backing down'

At a meeting of the executive he lost a vote of "no confidence" in his stewardship of the accounts.

Mr Blackford insists that he is not backing down from issuing a writ for defamation against Mr Salmond and his lawyers are still preparing his case.

He claims the party leader made statements which were damaging to his professional reputation.

Mr Blackford said Mr Salmond accused him of incompetence in his stewardship of the party's finances, of overspending at the Scottish election and of destabilising the party by leaks to the media.

Last month, the SNP was reported to be £400,000 in debt and its headquarters in Edinburgh are for sale.