McMaster: Centre of inquiry

SNP Councillor Suspended After McMasters's Suicide

Richard Vassie's name was linked by Scotland on Sunday to rumours that have been circulating regarding the Renfrewshire West MP since his death.

On Monday night, the SNP group on Renfrewshire Council met to consider the allegations and decided to suspend Mr Vassie for an unlimited period.

A SNP spokeswoman confirmed the councillor for Glenburn South in Paisley had been suspended pending a full investigation by the party.

"The local SNP group have suspended Mr Vassie. It is effectively the same as an MP losing the whip," she said. "I cannot say how long the investigation will last or what form it will take."

She confirmed that the move was second only to expulsion. The party will decide what disciplinary action to take following the investigation, she added.

"Councillor Vassie has been incredibly stupid, very ill advised, and I think probably has been misled, possibly deliberately," said the SNP chief executive Mike Russell.

"He has been a fool and he is paying the penalty for it in the council group and he will also have a disciplinary letter from the party shortly," he told BBC's Radio 4's The World at One

"The Labour Party can use this very unfortunate and foolish incident by a foolish young man to try and spread the blame," he said. "The blame in Paisley lies with the Labour Party. It is a one-party state, that is being run as a one-party state, and it is falling to pieces as a one-party state."

In a statement, Mr Russell added: "The action that has been taken by the SNP group is one of the severest forms of disciplinary action that can be taken and was taken within 24 hours of the story appearing. Disciplinary proceedings against Cllr Vassie on a national level have also been started."

He challenged Labour to discipline its own members who were implicated and criticised the party for not taking swifter action.