Scottish Tories in turmoil after top candidate sacked - Telegraph.co.uk

There was undisguised anger from Mr Macaskill's supporters at his treatment last night.

One senior party figure said: "This is outrageous. Malcolm has served the Conservatives loyally for over 30 years and is treated like this."

He claimed that the candidate had been told by officials at Conservative Central Office in Edinburgh that he could not fight the election as he had failed to disclose to the party when selected that he had twice been sequestrated.

However, a friend said last night: "The Tories are supposed to understand business and yet here we have a businessman sacked because he had gone bankrupt.

For goodness' sake – it happens to everyone in business."

Mr Macaskill was responsible for recruiting several wealthy donors, including Mr Coakley, a former professional footballer with Dundee FC who subsequently made his fortune buying and selling property in London's Mayfair.

Estimated to be worth £70million, he announced two months ago that he would donate £100,000 per year for the next 10 years to Scottish Tory coffers.

However, a senior Tory with close links to the situation said last night: "Mr Coakley is furious and he has told the Tories that he will no longer be making any donations."

The same source said Mr McGlynn, whose companies own airport car parks all over Europe, and who also donates funds to the party, may also withhold future donations.

Last night, Mr McGlynn said "This is outrageous. to penalise someone in this way is completely wrong.

"The definition of a successful entrepreneur is someone who stands up more times than he falls down. Tories should know that."

An SNP spokesman said it was the "worst possible" start to the Tory campaign, adding: "The first day and they have lost one of their top candidates, amid party infighting and internal allegations of malpractice. The Tories are not fit for purpose, fit for Glasgow, or fit for Scotland."

Labour said it had plunged the Conservative campaign "into crisis".

Stephen Curran, the Labour candidate for Glasgow Southside, added: "This reveals the chaos at the heart of the Tory party in Scotland."