MP's defection to Tories "least surprising news" of Yousaf's time as SNP leader
The First Minister believes Dr Lisa Cameron's decision should trigger a by-election in her East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow constituency
Last updated 12th Oct 2023
Humza Yousaf has described MP Dr Lisa Cameron’s decision to quit the party and join the Conservatives as “the least-surprising news I've had as leader of the SNP.”
The First Minister believes the East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow MP should resign her seat, and says she "probably never believed" in Scottish independence to begin with.
READ MORE: SNP MP Lisa Cameron defects to the Tories after 'toxic' treatment
Her defection comes on the day she was facing a selection battle in her constituency, with Grant Costello now set to be the party’s candidate at next year’s general election.
Rishi Sunak said he was "delighted" by her decision, which Dr Cameron said was due to the "toxic and bullying" culture within the SNP.
She also said Scottish independence had led to "significant division" in families like her own.
First elected as an SNP MP in 2015, Dr Cameron is a clinical psychiatrist who went on to win again in the two subsequent general elections.
Asked about her defection on Thursday, the First Minister 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.
"She should do the honourable thing by her constituents, who voted for an SNP MP, (but) did not vote for a Conservative MP."
He said he was confident the SNP could win any by-election and her decision was a "betrayal" of activists who had campaigned for her election.
Mr Yousaf 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."
He noted that Dr Cameron had written to the UK Government urging it to block Holyrood's gender recognition reforms.
Dr Cameron's opponent in the selection race, Grant Costello, had received the backing of an SNP minister and she was not expected to win.
Dr Cameron hadn't been expected to win nomination to run at next year's election
On Thursday afternoon, he was duly chosen as the SNP's candidate as the results for nine selection contests around Scotland were announced.
Sitting MPs Alyn Smith, David Linden and Brendan O'Hara were reselected, while Alison Thewliss will be the SNP candidate in a different constituency due to boundary changes.
Dr Cameron claimed she was shunned by other SNP MPs at Westminster after challenging the support given to former chief whip Patrick Grady - who was suspended from the House of Commons and apologised in Parliament after being found to have acted inappropriately towards a party staffer.
Her change of party comes days before the SNP conference in Aberdeen and follows the party's significant by-election loss in Rutherglen and Hamilton West last week.
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