Two councillors quit Scottish National Party over row

Their exit from the group at North Lanarkshire Council, to become independent councillors, will not affect the balance of power at the Labour-run authority. They will also continue to represent their constituents .

Lanarkshire is seen as a key area for the Scottish National Party at the general election in May, after it voted in favour of independence at the referendum.

Alan Beveridge represented a ward in Airdrie, and John Taggart is a councillor in Wishaw.

North Lanarkshire includes the constituencies Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill, Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East, Airdrie and Shotts, and Motherwell and Wishaw - all currently held by Labour, many of which the SNP has its sights on.

See page 18 for a debate between sitting Kirkintilloch MP Gregg McClymont and the SNP candidate.