Michelle Thomson will not stand at election after SNP rejection

Michelle Thomson has announced she is standing down as an MP.

The former SNP MP was told on Saturday she would not be eligible for selection as the party's candidate in the Edinburgh West seat she currently holds as an independent.

She said she was ''very disappointed'' with the decision.

The party's national executive (NEC) is meeting to decide selection procedures for the snap general election in June.

In a statement, Ms Thomson said: ''At 10.26 this morning I was called from the ongoing SNP NEC meeting to be told a selection process for Edinburgh West would happen and that I would not be eligible to stand for selection.

I am very disappointed with the decisions of the SNP. I am grateful to both elected officials and local branch members who contacted me in recent days to say they had lobbied the NEC on my behalf.''

Ms Thomson confirmed that after ''careful consideration'' she has decided not to stand as an independent candidate in the seat.