SNP activist in ‘Tory hope’ claim confirms exit

THE defection of pro-independence campaigner Muhammad Shoaib to Labour amid claims SNP figures privately want another Tory government has been dismissed by the Nationalists as a case of “sour grapes”.

Muhammad Shoaib, a former SNP activist who has defected to Labour. Picture: Contributed

Mr Shoaib worked closely with senior SNP figure during the referendum and was once praised by Nicola Sturgeon as an “honourable man” in an election leaflet.

Mr Shoaib said he was “shocked” the way he claimed SNP members in her Glasgow constituency are secretly hoping for another five years of Tory rule to help boost support for independence. He said: “I have been a senior member of Nicola Sturgeon’s constituency for years and I am deeply saddened that many of my former colleagues in the SNP secretly hope for another Tory government.”

However, the SNP said it had yet to receive Mr Shoaib’s resignation, which the party dismissed as “sour grapes”, after he failed to be selected a candidate in Glasgow.

An SNP spokeswoman said: “Given that he tried and failed to be selected as an SNP parliamentary candidate just a couple of months ago, this is a clear case of sour grapes.

A Scottish Labour spokeswoman said: “Mr Shoaib has resigned from the SNP and has completed his membership to join Scottish Labour.”

Mr Shoaib was unavailable for comment last night.

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