AN MP and the leader of Scotland’s biggest council clashed with a veteran MSP at SNP selection hustings, the Sunday National can reveal.

Two online sessions were held to help SNP members in Glasgow Cathcart make up their minds about who they want to represent the party in the 2021 Holyrood campaign. The Sunday National understands that tensions flared between Glasgow South MP Stewart McDonald and incumbent MSP James Dornan, McDonald’s former boss.

McDonald is said to have challenged Dornan over appearing on Russia Today. Meanwhile, Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, put pressure on Dornan over his campaigning record, stating that he’d failed to work for the branch during his time in Holyrood.

The exchanges took place before a virtual audience of more than 60 people. A source described it to the Sunday National as an “ambush”, saying: “I was taken aback. It seemed pretty personal and it was quite awkward to watch.”

Ex-councillor Dornan, who was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2011, announced his intention to stand down at the next ballot in a statement released in February before later changing his mind, stating “things have changed” with the pandemic and the number of long-serving politicians leaving Holyrood. In July it appeared he would not be permitted to seek selection for the SNP after the party’s National Executive Committee ruled the constituency should run an all-woman shortlist – a decision which itself was then rescinded.

Dornan is one of three selection candidates, alongside North Lanarkshire councillor Junaid Ashraf and Glasgow councillor Jen Layden, who was appointed city equalities convenor by Aitken.

There are around 1100 SNP members in the Glasgow Cathcart area, two-thirds of who joined after 2014. One new member said: “I didn’t really know what to expect but I didn’t expect to see what was basically an argument with an MP, and MSP and a councillor. “

However, another source dismissed this, saying: “It’s quite normal to ask about campaigning and the same questions were asked of all the three candidates.”

McDonald worked for Dornan before being elected to Westminster and Aitken previously acted as Dornan’s election agent. Both were contacted for comment.

Dornan said he had some “winning over to do of a small group of people”, adding: “Over the course of two hustings I thought I proved myself to be the strongest candidate. I look forward to uniting the whole branch if I’m fortunate enough to be their candidate.”

Meanwhile, Layden said: “It’s tough and it’s challenging to put yourself forwards but I’ve had a really positive experience.”

Ashraf said: “Unity and leadership for the Cathcart branch are the two key themes of this selection process ... I believe I’m the strongest candidate with the most robust experience and highest ambition for Glasgow Cathcart.”