SNP MP who defected to Tories ‘forced into hiding’ over ‘threats of violence’
Dr Lisa Cameron told The Times that she had gone into hiding as a result of violent threats she had received after her defection to the Tories.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.An SNP MP who defected to the Tories has claimed she and her family have had to go into hiding as a result of threats of violence she has received.
In her first interview with the media since news broke that Dr Lisa Cameron had left the SNP to join the Conservatives, the MP claimed she had to move out of her home after she was threatened with being “bricked in the street”.
Dr Cameron told the The Times she had received a “torrent of abuse” in emails since news of her defection broke on Thursday.
The MP left the SNP ahead of a selection meeting to pick the next candidate for the East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow constituency.
She has represented the area since the 2015 general election when the SNP won a total of 56 seats out of 59 in Scotland.
Dr Cameron faced a challenge in her seat from SNP staffer Grant Costello, who was supported by both Scottish Government minister Christina McKelvie and current and former East Kilbride MSPs Collette Stevenson and Linda Fabiani.
The outcome of the selection was due to be announced on Thursday, hours after Dr Cameron revealed she would leave the party.
The Times reported some of the threats she received included: “I hope someone throws a brick at you in the street”; “I hope you burn”; and “Think your mental health is bad now — wait until you see what abuse and nastiness you’re going to have to put up with”.
Dr Cameron told the newspaper the threats were “where the political discourse has got to in Scotland”.
She said: “We have had a lot of personal threats.
“Aggression, violence and anger are coupled on to the debate about nationalism.”
The former NHS clinical psychologist said she felt “isolated” within the SNP’s Westminster group and there was a lot of “fear and intimidation”.
Dr Cameron was prescribed anti-depressants and underwent counselling as a result of the treatment she claims to have received during her time within the party.
The straw that broke the camel’s back for Dr Cameron was when she defended the teenage victim of unwanted sexual advances from SNP MP Patrick Grady and said the treatment he received was “irreconcilable with my values”.
On choosing the Conservatives, Dr Cameron said she felt her views would not be welcomed in the Labour Party.
She is a member of the Free Church of Scotland.
She has also changed her view on independence and said she no longer felt the government was being run competently.
Aggression, violence and anger are coupled on to the debate about nationalism
Dr Cameron’s claims have been dismissed by senior SNP figures, including president Mike Russell.
He told BBC’s Good Morning Scotland on Friday that her claims were “unsubstantiated”.
He said: “What the SNP needs to do is focus on the big issues in Scotland, not what seems to be a rather odd tantrum from somebody who was going to lose their nomination.”
The defection was also downplayed by First Minister and SNP leader Humza Yousaf.
He said constituents would be “deeply let down” by her actions and that she should “do the honourable thing” and stand down.