AN SNP candidate has defended his election leaflet after Conservatives reported it to a watchdog.

Fergus Mutch, who aims to take the West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine seat from Tory incumbent Andrew Bowie, used the official NHS Grampian logo next to the words “not for sale” in material attacking the Conservatives.

The leaflet, which also bears the image of Aberdeen’s Foresterhill Health Campus, has been distributed to voters across the area.

The row comes less than one week til polling day. Mutch, a former SNP communications officer, says Tory leader Boris Johnson represents a “danger” to the NHS and says his party will not adopt “US-style” privatisation of the health service in Scotland.

But Bowie has hit out at his rival for using the health board logo and the Tory party has reported the matter to the Electoral Commission.

However, that body does not regulate the use of such branding on campaign material and has told The National it will not intervene with the dispute.

It advised that the party shouild lodge a complaint with the NHS instead.

READ MORE: Tories worried about the NHS should take it up with Westminster

Yesterday NHS Grampian said it has not received any official complaint and that the image used was not taken from within the health board’s grounds, and so does not breach any access rules.

But Bowie insisted the usage does breach guidelines, telling the Press and Journal newspaper: “I am deeply disappointed the NHS brand and good name of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary have been used like this.

“Using the identities of public bodies on campaign leaflets during a general election is a new low even for the SNP. It is complete nonsense and it is fear-mongering.”

In response, Mutch said Bowie’s party is “rattled” by the challenge from the SNP.

He told The National: “This is a feeble attempt from Andrew Bowie to try and distract voters from the very real threat that Boris Johnson poses to our NHS.

“We know for a fact the NHS is on the table in these back-room trade talks with the US.

“The Tories are asking voters to put the future of our health service in the hands of the two most dishonest men in world politics – Boris Johnson and Donald Trump. It simply won’t wash with voters in Scotland.

“A vote for the SNP next week is a vote to escape Brexit and protect our NHS from US-style privatisation.”

Meanwhile, Police Scotland were investigating in the nearby Banff and Buchan constituency yesterday after campaign signs for Tory candidate David Duguid were damaged or removed.

Expletives and a message to “vote SNP” were written on one, while two signs were knocked over and another two more of the signs were removed.