A DISPUTE has broken out between SNP MPs over whether MPs are allowed to endorse a candidate in the party’s selection contest for a key Holyrood seat, leaked WhatsApp messages reveal.

Joanna Cherry, the SNP’s justice and home affairs spokesperson, told MPs they would be in breach of party rules to endorse candidates, while Alison Thewliss, the treasury spokesperson, has said the rules do permit MPs to endorse candidates.

Cherry and Angus Robertson, the SNP’s former deputy leader, are both vying to be the party’s candidate for the key target seat of Edinburgh Central at next year’s Holyrood election.

Robertson’s announcement on Twitter he was standing in the contest was “liked” by SNP MPs Chris Law and John Nicolson.

READ MORE: Joanna Cherry endorsed Angus Robertson in previous SNP contest​

Last week, Cherry sent copies of extracts of the selection rules to fellow MPs, suggesting they would be in breach of them if they made any endorsements. Thewliss disputed Cherry’s interpretation and said MPs could make endorsements though members of the party’s ruling body the National Executive Committee (NEC) could not in their official capacity.

The SNP last night declined to clarify which position was correct.

An SNP spokesperson told The National: “We’re still a month away from the start of the nomination process. Parliamentarians will be getting further guidance on when they can, and can’t, publicly express their support of an individual.”

Cherry, the Edinburgh South West MP, posted in the MPs’ group: “Dear colleagues here are the Selection Rules – Scottish Parliament Elections 2021*. Para 11.3 is very important. Relevant parts of the Constitution: Members. 4 Membership. 4.1 The rights of membership include - ...(e) voting to select the Party’s candidates at public elections...Para 11.3 states that party officers and elected members...must not seek to influence the votes of members by recommending a vote for a particular candidate or stating that their organisation is supporting a particular candidate.

“I will not be asking any of you to breach these rules in regards to Edinburgh Central and wd ask you not to do so re any other potential nominees.”

READ MORE: SNP block outrageous Tory bid to hijack Scottish Affairs Committee

Thewliss, the Glasgow Central MP, responded: “You’ve missed out ‘acting in their official capacity’ in that...”

Cherry replied: “Yes but if you tweet from your official MP account you are acting in an official capacity. Privately you are of course free to do as you please. There are good reasons for this rule. Whoever is selected the whole party needs to get behind. Hence the need to avoid obvious division. Which I am doing.”

Thewliss then said: “My understanding of those rules is that it refers to elected members of the NEC, not MPs. It’s in the section about organisational neutrality. I mention this because I highlighted this section at NEC.”

Cherry responded: “Hhmmmm. Not my understanding but perhaps clarification can be sought.”

READ MORE: Joanna Cherry: Why I’m standing to be MSP for Edinburgh Central

Asked for a comment, Cherry said: “Selection is a matter for SNP members living in Edinburgh Central and them alone. I am standing on my record of hard work and action. I am very pleased to have the support of many of my MP colleagues but I would never seek to use them to influence the process. I hope my record of hard work speaks for itself.”

Last week Marco Biagi, the former SNP MSP for Edinburgh Central, appealed for the contest to be conducted in a positive manner.

The seat is currently held by the former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson who is stepping down before the election. Davidson has a slim majority of 610.

Both Robertson and Cherry are seen as potential successors to Nicola Sturgeon, and the selection contest has been described as a battle for the soul of the SNP. Some see it as a contest over strategy on a second independence vote.

Thewliss declined to comment.