A FORMER Scottish Government minister has called for the SNP to introduce selection campaign spending caps, in a bid to curb so-called “dark money” donations.

Marco Biagi, who is vying to be the party’s candidate in Edinburgh Central, says the lack of regulations has tilted the process "towards those with the richest friends".

He said a £100 limit on internal campaigning would be fairer.

In an email to National Secretary Angus MacLeod, sent earlier this month, Biagi warned that allowing unlimited spend, “may be seen to favour certain candidates” and “presents a reputational risk to the integrity of this selection process and the NEC in general at a sensitive time.”

But Biagi’s pleas to party bosses have so far been ignored, forcing the ex-MSP to go public. 

He accused the SNP of “ mishandling” the process for selecting candidates.

Biagi added: “The SNP prides itself on being a democratic organisation that affords opportunity to all members to participate. But this is not the impression currently being given.

“If the party’s National Executive Committee wants to restrict Dominic Cummings tactics or dark money donations they could do it any time. And they should. All the work that has been done to ensure gender equality and disabled representation is wasted if candidate selections are left tilted towards those with the richest friends.

“SNP candidates should be raising money to unseat our opponents, not each other. Every donation spent on an internal selection is one less available for campaigning on our shared objective of independence.”

Facebook, as a matter of course, now shares details on how much money politicians and political campaigns have spent on advertising.

Biagi has spent £115 on Facebook adverts. His rival, Angus Robertson, has spent around £1000.

Robertson has raised around £2790 in donations on a crowdfunding website, around £1230 of those have come from anonymous donors.

Biagi said: "In the 2018 Depute Leadership election paid social media advertising was limited by party rules. Why not now?

“I have raised this internally and it has gone nowhere. I have exhausted internal channels and so with the greatest reluctance I am taking my concerns public so that members will know what is going on. I just believe ordinary party members want to see a level playing field – is that so much to ask?”

Biagi, who served as Local Government Minister under Nicola Sturgeon, stood down as the MSP for Edinburgh Central in 2016.

He surprised activists over the summer when he announced his intention to take back the seat, currently held by Tory Holyrood leader Ruth Davidson.

His announcement came after the MP Joanna Cherry withdrew from the race following the introduction of new party rules on dual mandates.

The ruling, brought in by the NEC last month, means that if selected as the candidate, she would have been forced to quit her Commons seat, closing her constituency office, and making her staff redundant. 

SNP activists have until tomorrow to express an interest in standing for a Holyrood constituency.  It's then up to local party members to choose who becomes the candidate.