A former Liberal Democrat activist who spoke for the North East Fife branch party at national conferences has defected to the SNP.
Anne Cunningham, formerly Horner, ran the Scottish Liberal Democrats website for 11 years but left the party shortly after quitting that job and voted Yes in last year’s referendum.
She slammed the party’s record as part of the coalition government and its treatment of independence-supporting members.
Mrs Cunningham said: “The attitude of some of the leading figures towards those of us daring to vote Yes was disappointing although understandable because of the awkward position they were in.
“I made up my mind months ago to vote SNP in 2015 because that is what I believe is best for the UK in the context of a Westminster election now that the Lib Dems have lost so much support.
“There is no way the SNP can force independence from the green benches yet the hatred and irrational statements coming from all quarters is incredible.
“Cameron is stirring up English nationalism making the break-up of the UK all the more likely. Clegg is giving the voters the impression that he wants more of the same with his pal Dave, as is Alexander.”
SNP North East Fife candidate Stephen Gethins said: “I’m not surprised by this. We are finding people switching from the Liberal Democrats to the SNP across North East Fife.
“People who are fed up of broken promises by the Liberal Democrats but also encouraged by the SNP’s positive message and want to send a strong team of SNP MPs to Westminster.”
Conservative candidate Huw Bell said the campaign had been characterised by “desperate scaremongering and deceit by the SNP and Lib Dems.”
He added: “They (the Lib Dems) have the cheek to claim they are the party to stop the SNP and ask for Conservatives to vote tactically for them.”
A Liberal Democrat spokeswoman said: “We respect Anne Cunningham’s right to support other parties.”