THE SNP is coming under intense pressure to put a limit on spending in the party’s selection contests.

Six potential candidates have now called for a cap to be brought in for the internal elections, with one telling The National she feared the current system allowed well-funded hopefuls to buy the support of members.

In a letter to SNP chief executive Peter Murrell and national secretary Angus MacLeod, some of the prospective candidates in Edinburgh Central and Edinburgh Southern have joined forces to say they are “concerned with unlimited campaign spending, especially on paid social media advertising, and the attendant growth of crowdfunding.”

Marco Biagi, and Lee-Anne Menzies in Central,  and Alison Dickie, Catriona MacDonald, and Doug Thomson in southern, along with one other candidate in the capital, said money “donated by SNP supporters should be spent campaigning against our opponents, not each other”.

Their letter goes on to ask the SNP leadership to "evisit urgently the question of campaign spending limits in internal selections and take action to ensure a level playing field."

Because of coronavirus and the restrictions on gathering, the party has been forced to introduce strict new rules on canvassing.

The guidance says the only “permitted means” of attempting to win over members is to participate in online hustings, contact “through the authorised email system”, the use of a website, a personal Facebook page or a personal Twitter account and communication through a candidate’s own personal contacts.

A number of candidates, including Edinburgh Central’s Angus Robertson and Edinburgh Southern’s Michael Sturrock, have turned to social media advertising to boost their bids.

They’ve used online crowdfunders to help raise cash to pay for the adverts and other forms of virtual campaigning.

Robertson has so far raised £2890 while Sturrock has raised £1185.

According to Facebook’s Ad library, the two men and three other SNP candidates, including Biagi, have promoted posts on social media in recent months. 

Robertson has spent around £1000 on the adverts. Last week, Biagi, who has spent arond £115, called for a £100 cap to be brought in.

When asked if that was something they were considering, an SNP spokesperson said: “Even in internal elections, donations are fully regulated by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act (PPERA) 2000.”

However, that only covers fundraising. It does not limit the amount that can be spent on an internal contest.

Biagi wasn’t happy at the party’s response.

He told The National: “The only response I’ve received has been through the press, citing the hopelessly inadequate Blair-era legislation.

“It is unbecoming of a progressive party to hide behind it.”

Menzies told The National: “Having a small limit of spending on internal competitions would set the tone for all candidates.

“It would allow a more equal start and it would also assist branches. Being recognised by members is a good way to be chosen, this is not something that should be able to be bought.”

MacDonald said she supported a “fair and transparent candidate selection process and a level playing field for every potential candidate, regardless of their background.”

She added: “Money donated by SNP supporters - especially when so many are facing financial hardship - is best spent on winning seats and campaigning for independence. I hope our proposals will be given serious consideration.”

Responding to his rivals’ letter, Sturrock told The National: “Times have changed. Data protection rules do not permit prospective candidates to phone members. Party rules mean we can neither pound the pavements, nor can we post leaflets. And we can’t visit members.“

He added:  “Any money I raise is spent locally on a website allowing people to get to know me and to connect with me directly. More importantly, my No-to-Yes blog is gaining local, national and international coverage and is bringing others to our movement.”

Last week, a spokesperson for Robertson told Holyrood magazine that online advertising is a “legitimate, permissible and effective way” of getting the message out.

They added: “Edinburgh Central will need a candidate who has the ability to help raise the necessary funds for the SNP to win a closely contested race with the Tories. It will take tens of thousands of pounds.”

A senior SNP insider told The National it was unlikely there'd be any change to the rules of the contest during the contest. They said: “SNP nominees across the country are promoting their social media presence, with a great many in the process of boosting their online campaigns.

“This is entirely sensible given current pandemic conditions and in line with the selection rules which have been limited to virtual campaigning because of Covid-19.

“I’ve never heard of election rules being changed in the middle of a campaign”.