SNP members who have been tagged as part of the so-called McMafia in North Lanarkshire have hit back at their critics in an anonymous blog.
In a sign of how toxic the infighting in the party has become in the local authority, the site, the curtaintwitcherblog, attacks MP Phil Boswell, accusing him of being a rule-breaking, hypocrite.
The blog also posts pictures of SNP councillor David Baird with Solidarity’s Tommy Sheridan, insinuating that the party has been infiltrated by Solidarity.
In one post, the blogger writes: “Perhaps those with agendas to push, and scores to settle with the SNP can perhaps stop peddling the myth that there is a ‘Mafia’ within the SNP in North Lanarkshire.”
It also claims that Dr Imtiaz "Jimmy" Majid should have been selected as the candidate for Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill, but withdrew because he believed he was being smeared by a competitor. They claim Majid received the the majority of the vote from Coatbridge.
The blogger writes: “So why did Dr Majid not become the candidate? We [sic] the answer is that Dr Majid withdrew from the race in disgust at what many believe to be a malicious competitor smearing him to the SNP HQ. For the sake of his family reputation Dr Majid stood aside until the matter was resolved and his name cleared. This was an absolutely disgusting and malicious Allegations (which it would not be fair to repeat).
"Dr Majid had done nothing wrong and vicious gossip was used to attempt to tarnish his reputation. As one local member of the SNP was quoted as saying “ the low down filthy b****** that made this c*** up about Jimmy should rot in hell”, strong words … but we will let you make your own mind up about the sort of person how makes up a false allegations to ensure their own agenda.”
Reports in The Sun from June 2014 say Majid had hidden £1.2 million from his wife as they started divorce proceedings. Those divorce proceedings are still ongoing, with the next court date at the end of April.
Over the weekend reports emerged that police had interviewed a second SNP councillor over alleged corruption. The Sunday Herald said the councillor, who was not named, was asked to attend as a potential witness rather than a suspect.
Months of infighting in the branch came to a head last month when councillor Julie McAnulty was accused of racism by a fellow SNP activist. She denied the charge, believing it related to her investigations into corruption – allegations she made to the police's counter corruption unit.
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