Angus MacNeil

An MP who defected from The SNP to The Tories over bullying claims was having a " tantrum" The SNP president says.

Mike Russell rejected Lisa Cameron 's claims that a " toxic" culture in The Party had affected her Mental Health .

Dr Cameron was facing an SNP selection contest to remain as candidate for East Kilbride , Strathaven and Lesmahagow at The Next general election.

Mr Russell said her constituency party lost faith in and her " unsubstantiated" claims should be examined.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed Dr Cameron - a former NHS Clinical Psychologist - After she announced she had joined The Conservatives on Thursday.

SNP leader Humza Yousaf called on her to step down to allow a by-election.

In her departure statement, Dr Cameron rowed back on her support for Scottish independence and described it as " divisive".

Mr Russell told BBC Radio's programme that Dr Cameron 's relationship with The SNP had " become more and more fraught over The years".

He Said : " Lisa's decision is her decision, but I regard it as absolutely bizarre and I think it does call into question all sort of things. "

Mr Russell said The SNP needed to Focus On The big issues in Scotland and " not what seems to be a rather odd tantrum from somebody who was going to lose their seat and lose their nomination. "

He added: " That was absolutely Clear - The constituency party had lost faith in her, and I think That Kind of ego-driven politics is deeply unattractive. "

Dr Cameron 's defection came After The SNP were defeated by Labour in The Last week.

She Said a " toxic and bullying SNP Westminster group" resulted in her requiring counselling for a year and caused " significant deterioration" in her health including The need for GP-prescribed antidepressants.

However, The SNP president challenged this.

Mr Russell told The Bbc : " I think Lisa's claims are unsubstantiated and what we need to Focus On is reality.

" I have The Greatest sympathy for anybody in those circumstances, but their claim for how they arose, when they make that claim publicly, has to be regrettably examined. "

He Said The East Kilbride , Strathaven and Lesmahagow MP should Stand Down to allow for a by-election in The constituency.

Meanwhile, Mr Russell said Western Isles MP Angus Macneil should also Stand Down for a by-election to be held.

In August, Mr MacNeil announced he would.

Mr Russell said: " He has changed his position and that requires a new mandate, just as The People in East Kilbride are entitled to ask to exercise their mandate. "

Lisa Cameron claimed previously that she had been " ostracised" by The SNP After speaking out over The .

At The Time , she did not rule out standing down and triggering a by-election if she did not win The SNP nomination.

Scottish Conservatives chairman Craig Hoy told The Bbc that Mr Russell was " dismissing The concerns raised by Lisa Cameron in The Most high-handed of ways. "

He added: " She is a brave and committed constituency MP and I think she's been right in saying we need to show more empathy in politics and Focus On less division. "

He Said that there was no need for a by-election as " other parties have welcomed new MPs without one".

Mr Hoy added: " The Party that loses an MP in an defection always demands a by-election, but it's not always necessary part of Our Constitution .

" She will continue to represent her constituents in The same way she has done in The Last Four Years . "

Source of news: bbc.com