A former SNP rising star has accused the party’s hierarchy of “rigging” an internal selection battle to ensure a preferred candidate won a safe seat.
North Lanarkshire councillor Paul Di Mascio believes he would have been a certainty to win the support of local members to stand in the 2021 Airdrie and Shotts by-election.
However, he has claimed his candidacy and others were blocked by former FM Nicola Sturgeon, ex-SNP CEO Peter Murrell and party chair Kirsten Oswald, before Anum Qaisar was parachuted in.
