Councillors suspended from SNP over Smith report burning

SNP councillors who posted a video of themselves burning the Smith Commission document online have been suspended from the party, it has been announced.

Councillors Brian Lawson, Will Mylet and Mags MacLaren staged the burning outside Renfrewshire Council's headquarters and posted a video of it on YouTube. A fourth councillor, Kenny MacLaren was not in the video but was pictured at the burning in a blog post.

SNP National Secretary, Patrick Grady, said: "I have written to the Convener of the party's Disciplinary Committee, making a complaint against the four individuals concerned, and the four will be suspended from the party until that complaint is heard.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon distanced herself from the stunt. “Many people are disappointed with the result of the referendum and the level of devolution recommended by the Smith Commission, however Scotland will only make progress if we debate our views openly and with respect.

“It is essential that in that debate, conduct does not fall short of the high standard that is rightly expected by the public. My clear view is that setting fire to something because you don’t agree with it is not acceptable behaviour,” she said.

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