Scottish Green Party members have come out in support of an underfire north-east Holyrood election candidate who is facing calls to stand down.
Morag Hannah and Anna McFarlane said Maggie Chapman was democratically chosen to top the regional list and had a proven track record as a strong community campaigner.
They spoke out after the P&J revealed that 20 members of the party’s branches in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Dundee and Angus have signed a petition calling for the University of Aberdeen rector to be de-selected.
A source claimed Ms Chapman, a City of Edinburgh councillor and co-convener of the Scottish Greens, should vacate the top spot to allow the selection of a more credible local candidate.
They described her as a “carpetbagger” with little local knowledge or understanding of the challenges people face in the north-east region, which stretches from Dundee to Aberdeenshire.
Ms Hannah, a web designer at Dundee University, said she believed some locally based candidates were “acting out of personal grievance”.
“I’m disappointed by this move to oust Maggie,” she added.
“I believe that members are acting out of hurt and disappointment, which is understandable but not in the best interests of the party or the north-east.
“Whatever Maggie’s credentials in terms of local knowledge there’s no questioning her commitment and honesty, ‘credibility’ is a balancing act as what she lacks in that area she brings other skills to the table.” she added.
“Maggie already has a profile, she has connections with community campaign groups all over the country including in the north-east.”
Ms McFarlane, a member of the Green Party’s Dundee branch, added: “While I understand that some local members may be hurt by Maggie’s selection, she was selected democratically and she has done everything by the book.
“This petition will serve no purpose other than to represent the north-east Greens in a bad light and that’s a real shame.
“I look forward to the petition being reviewed and dismissed so that we can start a strong and positive campaign for Maggie’s election next year.”
Petition signatories include Aberdeenshire councillor Martin Ford, former Aberdeenshire councillor Debra Storr, Shiona Baird, who was a north-east MSP between 2003-2007, and Rhonda Reekie, who stood in the Aberdeen Donside by-election in 2013.
Ms Chapman, who is a lecturer at Napier University in Edinburgh, said she was fully committed to working with all members to achieve the best ever Green result in the north-east.
“Next month I will be taking up a new part-time job in Dundee in the meantime and basing myself in Dundee as part of that, as well as continuing with my duties as rector of the University of Aberdeen,” she added.
Gavin Corbett of the Scottish Green Party’s elections and campaigns committee, said: “While it is always disappointing when differences of opinion emerge between members, what really matters is how it is dealt with.
“In between a few heated words I have been impressed by the willingness of the vast majority of people involved to come to a constructive conclusion.
“Over the next few days we will be redoubling our efforts to arrive at that point and I am pretty confident that we will then be able again to focus fully on winning voters’ backing for an increased Green presence in the north-east.”