Why I had to quit toxic SNP: Exclusive by Lisa Cameron

• MP tells inside story of split tearing Nationalists apart 
• Who will be next to quit floundering party? 

Humza Yousaf faces the threat of an exodus of politicians from his party after the bombshell defection of one of his MPs to the Tories.

Lisa Cameron yesterday quit the SNP to become a Conservative MP, citing the ‘toxic and bullying’ treatment to which she was subjected by her Nationalist colleagues.

She revealed that her mental health has deteriorated through her ordeal in the SNP Westminster group and that she had been prescribed antidepressants.

Senior party figures warned Mr Yousaf of the threat that more parliamentarians will follow her out the door unless he changes course and ditches ‘daft policies’.

The East Kilbride, Strathaven and ­Lesmahagow MP said she had been offered support by Rishi Sunak in recent weeks after opening up about her mental wellbeing, but had no contact from the SNP leadership.

She also hit out at the ‘division’ caused by the SNP’s pursuit of independence and said she would now focus on policies which benefit all four nations of the UK.

Dr Cameron said she felt unable to continue in the SNP after she was subjected to ‘toxic and bullying’ treatment

Lisa Cameron winning her SNP seat on election night with her husband (left)

The Prime Minister yesterday hailed her as a ‘brave and committed’ MP and said she was right to look for ‘more empathy and less division’.

The First Minister dismissed her comments, claimed she probably never supported ­independence in the first place and called for her to quit and trigger a by-election.

Dr Cameron attributes the treatment she received to her decision to speak out in ­support of the harassment victim of fellow Nationalist MP Patrick Grady.

In an explosive statement given exclusively to MailOnline yesterday, she said: ‘I do not feel able to continue in what I have experienced as a toxic and bullying SNP Westminster group, which resulted in my requiring counselling for a period of 12 months in Parliament and caused significant deterioration in my health and wellbeing as assessed by my GP, including the need for antidepressants.

‘I will never regret my actions in standing up for a victim of abuse at the hands of an SNP MP last year, but I have no faith remaining in a party whose leadership supported the perpetrator’s interests over that of the victim’s and who have shown little to no interest in acknowledging or addressing the impact.’

She said she has had no contact from the SNP leadership in recent weeks after telling how she was ‘ostracised’ by colleagues for speaking up for Mr Grady’s victim, but said members of every other party offered her ­‘support and compassion’.

‘I am particularly grateful to the Prime ­Minister in valuing my continued contribution to Parliament as a health professional and in taking time to listen,’ she said.

‘It is the first time I have felt heard and shows positive, inclusive leadership in ­contrast to that which I have encountered in the SNP at Westminster over many years.’

In comments ahead of the SNP conference, she hit out at the ‘division’ the party’s pursuit of independence has caused and revealed she will focus on policies which benefit the four nations of the UK. She said: ‘Families like mine experienced significant division regarding the issue of independence.

The Prime Minister yesterday hailed Dr Lisa Cameron as a ‘brave and committed’ MP and said she was right to look for ‘more empathy and less division’.

‘This has taken its toll and I have come to the conclusion that it is more helpful to focus my energies upon constructive policies that benefit everyone across the four nations of the UK, and to move towards healing these ­divisions for the collective good.’

Dr Cameron added: ‘Being in the SNP has been bad for my health. I will be taking time as advised to recuperate and will continue as always to focus upon serving my constituents.’

Veteran Nationalist MSP Fergus Ewing yesterday condemned the way his party’s leadership had handled the issue – and warned others may desert the SNP unless Mr Yousaf changes course.

He told the Mail: ‘Whatever the rights and wrongs on the situation, on a human level it doesn’t sound as if the SNP leadership did right by this lady.’

Mr Ewing said there is ‘general malcontent’ in the SNP and said he and ­others are demanding ‘radical change’ before Christmas, including ditching the Greens. Asked if there is a danger of more politicians walking away from the SNP, he said: ‘Of course there is because they are put off by the dangerous and daft alliance with the Greens and have been ­scunnered and frankly punished by daft policies.’

Dr Cameron announced her defection hours before her local branch selected party staffer Grant Costello to be the SNP candidate for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow in the next general election.

She is the first ever parliamentarian to switch from the SNP to the Tories.

Mr Sunak said: ‘I am delighted that Lisa Cameron has decided to join the ­Conservatives. She is a brave and committed constituency MP.

‘Lisa is right that we should aim to do politics better, with more empathy and less division and a dedication to always doing what we think is right.’

Mr Yousaf yesterday failed to address Dr Cameron’s claims of bullying by colleagues. When asked about her announcement, he said: ‘It’s the least surprising news I’ve had as leader of the SNP, I must confess. Lisa Cameron should do the ­honourable thing, she should resign her seat.’

He added: ‘To see somebody who claims to have supported Scottish independence cross the floor to the Conservative and Unionist Party betrays the fact that she probably never believed in the cause in the first place.’

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: ‘Lisa took a principled stand in supporting the victim in the Patrick Grady case, when her party took the side of the disgraced MP.

‘For doing so, she has been shamefully and ­inexplicably mistreated by the SNP.’

Labour’s Shadow Scottish ­Secretary Ian Murray said: ‘This bizarre move shows that the SNP is falling apart before our eyes.’

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