Alex Salmond has accused David Cameron of seeking to capitalise on the Syria crisis to expose Labour divisions.
The former SNP leader also suggested the “great priority” for the Prime Minister is “removing the stain” of his embarrassing Commons defeat in 2013 over Syria strikes.
Writing in his column for The Courier, Mr Salmond said: “The case for adding to the 10 countries already bombing in Syria is wafer thin.
“Cameron’s tactics are aimed to divide the Labour Party not to unite the country.
“No doubt this will be successful but on this issue of such importance there is something demeaning and indeed plain wrong about Government ministers spending the weekend phoning round rebellious Labour MPs pleading with them to desert their own leader.”
Mr Salmond, the SNP’s spokesman for foreign affairs in Westminster, was criticised for snubbing Mr Cameron’s Syria statement on Thursday in the Commons in favour of engagements in Edinburgh, including the unveiling of a portrait of himself.
His party said he was fully briefed ahead of the statement and was also hosting a Scottish parliamentary reception for veterans later that day.
To read Alex Salmond’s column in full, pick up a copy of Monday’s The Courier or try our online edition.