By Chris McCall

Copyright dailyrecord

The SNP faces “serious questions” over how its election candidates are selected after a veteran MSP offered to donate £20,000 to his local party. Colin Beattie reportedly pledged the cash last November but only “if he is selected as candidate in the fullness of time”. The MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh has denied any wrongdoing and insisted the donation was only to ensure his election campaign was sufficiently funded. One furious local SNP activist has demanded the selection contest is now re-run. “Mr Beattie has made a mockery of this contest and my trust in him has been destroyed,” they told the Mail . “This bribe is a gross abuse of power in my opinion and has sullied the entire process. This should be nullified.” In a statement, Beattie said today: “Before the selection process begun, I reassured members if I were the candidate I would make sure the campaign was sufficiently funded. “It is a falsehood to claim that any pledged donation formed part of the selection contest.” Beattie was previously investigated as part of the long-running Operation Branchform probe into SNP finances. He was told by prosecutors earlier this year he would not face any criminal charges. Nicola Sturgeon was also cleared of any wrongdoing as part of the same investigation. Her estranged husband Peter Murrell, a former SNP chief executive, was subsequently charged with embezzlement. Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour deputy leader, said: “This will raise serious questions about the SNP’s selection process, and what promises were made by Colin Beattie as part of the decision to nominate him as the party’s candidate for the Holyrood election next year. “Colin Beattie must come clean about what promises he made to his local party branch in the full interests of transparency, otherwise people will have grave concerns about the process which led to him being chosen to stand for re-election. “It is also incumbent on John Swinney and the SNP’s new chief executive Callum McCaig to investigate any allegations of impropriety in order to give party members the confidence they need that selections are fair and free from any undue influences.” Rachel Hamilton, Scottish Conservatives deputy leader, said: “If these allegations are true, Colin Beattie’s position is completely untenable. “He must immediately explain exactly what happened during his attempts to be reselected for this seat and release all relevant correspondence. “If there is any suggestion that he attempted to offer improper inducements to secure the candidacy, it would be a huge scandal requiring, at the very least, his immediate withdrawal as a candidate.” To sign up to the Daily R ecord Politics newsletter, click here