Labour call for SNP answers over Bill Walker suspension

SCOTTISH LABOUR has called on the SNP to clarify the reasons for suspending an MSP at the centre of domestic abuse allegations.

The call was in response to comments by Bill Walker in a newspaper column in which he said he had been “temporarily” excluded while an investigation is carried out into his selection by the party.

He wrote in the Dunfermline Press: “This is due to an examination of the vetting procedures regarding my selection as an MSP candidate for the Scottish elections last year and not because of any malicious allegations made about me in respect of former private relationships.”

Mr Walker, MSP for Dunfermline West, was suspended after allegations printed in a Scottish Sunday newspaper on March 4 concerning his three former wives.

He was suspended by the party at Holyrood and in Fife Council and resigned his membership of two Holyrood committees.

At the time, an SNP spokesman said the party has a “zero tolerance” policy for violence against women.

The spokesman added: “No such information was reported in Mr Walker’s candidate process, as is required of all prospective candidates, and therefore we have suspended Mr Walker from both the party and the parliamentary group pending a full investigation of the facts and circumstances.”

Lesley Laird, a Labour candidate for the May council elections, said: “The SNP need to clarify this situation: are they looking at these serious allegations or are they simply looking at the paper work surrounding his selection?”

An SNP spokesman said today: “Mr Walker is suspended from the party and a full investigation is under way. It would be inappropriate to comment further until the disciplinary process reaches its conclusion.”