The SNP’s chief whip was forced to quit after a botched mole hunt in Westminster, the Sunday Mail can reveal.
Martin Docherty-Hughes stepped down just six weeks after being appointed by the party’s new leader in London, Stephen Flynn.
His departure was announced last Tuesday with the MP claiming the decision was related to the time commitments of the job.
But we can reveal an explosive row with Glasgow South MP Stewart McDonald was to blame for the enforcer’s downfall.
Three senior SNP figures confirmed Docherty-Hughes wrongly accused McDonald of disclosing internal information after sending out fake emails to try to catch suspected leakers in the group.
The net appeared to close after details of sex pest MP Patrick Grady’s return to the SNP were published over the Christmas holidays.
But one SNP MP said: “Martin sent a ‘control’ email to most of us, saying Patrick was returning, but then sent a slightly different version to a handful of people.
“The email that did get leaked was the control email but Martin decided Stewart had been the person who leaked.”
A second SNP MP added: “Stewart said that if he [Docherty-Hughes] did not get fired, he would go public with what had happened.”
Another senior SNP figure said the atmosphere in the group in Westminster has “turned sour” and support for Flynn was “rapidly declining”.
Critics said SNP MPs should not be picking fights with one another.
Docherty-Hughes refused to comment on the claims.
Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray MP said: “It appears the SNP lied about the reason for their chief whip’s resignation. They must urgently issue clarification about the departure.”
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