SNP councillor suspended after 'party conference fracas'

Lewis Ritchie after completing a 109-mile charity cycle

An SNP councillor has been suspended from the party pending a disciplinary hearing.

Lewis Ritchie, Edinburgh City Council's former planning convener, has been on a "leave of absence" due to health reasons since November.

But the SNP has confirmed the Leith councillor is now suspended following a complaint.

Holyrood Magazine said the complaint related to "an alleged fracas" at the party's conference in Glasgow.

It was made in October, just weeks before Mr Ritchie stepped aside from his duties.

An SNP spokesman said: "A complaint has been passed to the disciplinary committee and Cllr Ritchie is under administrative suspension until a hearing takes place."

Mr Ritchie was elected to represent the Leith Walk ward following a by-election in 2015, and voted in as planning convener in June last year.

He was nominated in the local politician category at last year's Herald Scottish Politician of the Year Awards, losing out to Aberdeen City Council leader Jenny Laing.