A FORMER Argyll and Bute Council leader dumped as an SNP candidate ahead of this May's local elections has accused the party of “total contempt” for democracy.

James Robb contacted the Advertiser this week to announce his resignation as an SNP member – and aimed a furious broadside at the party in the process.

The Advertiser reported two weeks ago that Cllr Robb had not been selected as an SNP candidate for Helensburgh Central, despite being one of the ward's four councillors since 2007.

Instead the party's Helensburgh branch has selected its convener, Lorna Douglas, to fight the town centre ward election.

Cllr Robb – who will serve as an independent for the few remaining weeks of the council term – said he had yet to decide whether to stand as an independent in the May 4 poll.

He said: “SNP members in Helensburgh Central were denied their right to choose their candidate for the council elections.

“I have experienced and tolerated the unpleasant dark arts of politics many times in my ten years as a councillor.

“This time the complete lack of respect for ordinary SNP members, who are the foundation of the party’s success, and the total contempt for the fundamental principle of inclusive democracy were unacceptable.”

Cllr Robb, who served as the council's leader for a brief period in 2013, said: “I have been humbled by the many kind comments of SNP members and surprised by the number of supportive comments from the people of Helensburgh, many of whom do not share my views on national politics.

“It seems I am not alone in believing that representing your community in local government has nothing to do with constitutional issues.”

Cllr Robb said he had raised the matter with the party's leadership, and the convener and secretary of its Helensburgh branch, but didn't get a response until after the party's nomination process closed.

He added: “It was no longer possible to give members a ballot by alternative means. Lorna Douglas then became the candidate by default.”

Asked whether he planned to stand as an independent candidate in May, Cllr Robb said he would reach a decision “outside the ferment of SNP politics” by the nomination deadline next week.

He said: “I believe a truly independent councillor willing to share his ideas and support policies on their intrinsic merit is worth considering.

“However that would require a big personal commitment but in reality the workload would be little different to my previous contribution to the SNP council group.”

Cllr Robb was elected as leader of the council in Febuary 2013, but resigned three months later, at the request of his SNP group colleagues, after his plans to form a coalition of SNP, Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors were blocked.

Nominations for candidates in this May's poll must be received by Argyll and Bute Council by 4pm next Wednesday, March 29.

An SNP spokesman said: "Cllr Robb did not receive a nomination from his local branch, and did not then seek nomination from individual local members.

"As such he was not in a position to take part in a selection contest, and has now chosen to leave the SNP."