AN SNP activist is suing the party over new rules which make it harder for MPs to seek election in the Scottish Parliament.

In July the national executive committee (NEC) switched its process so MPs would need to resign from Westminster as soon as they are selected for run for Holyrood.

The SNP’s justice spokesperson, Joanna Cherry QC, withdrew her effort to become the Edinburgh Central candidate when the rules were announced.

She has called the rule unfair and, writing for The National yesterday, accused members of the NEC of pushing “personal vendettas”.

READ MORE: Joanna Cherry: Being on SNP’s NEC should be about independence, not personal vendettas

David Henry, an organiser for the party’s Edinburgh Pentlands constituency association and the secretary of the Sighthill & Stenhouse branch, is bringing forward a court action over the rules. The activist is suing the SNP for £5000 in membership fees and donations to the party.

Henry’s action names SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, business convener Kirsten Oswald and party lawyer Ian McCann.

In documents lodged with Edinburgh Sheriff Court and seen by The Times newspaper, Henry says: “All of this was in good faith because I believed the party was a force for good and that it abided by its constitution.

“The recent events prove that I have been misled and the respondents have failed to provide any evidence that the NEC acted in accordance with the standing orders of the national executive committee.”

The SNP has denied that the new rules agreed this summer were aimed at Cherry.

The party has been contacted for comment.