THE SNP has de-selected a series of councillors linked to the so-called “Monklands McMafia” feud in a bid to clean up the party’s reputation in North Lanarkshire.

Four councillors failed vetting to stand for re-election in May, though they can still appeal.

Three are linked to a local old guard dubbed the McMafia, which is centred on Airdrie & Shotts MSP Alex Neil and the Uddingston & Bellshill MSP Richard Lyle.

One is linked to a rival faction close to Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill MP Phil Boswell.

A power struggle between the factions last year prompted SNP Headquarters to suspend the Coatbridge branch, saying “a culture of mistrust” had created a “toxic” environment.

The ‘McMafia’ councillors who failed vetting were husband and wife Michael and Agnes Coyle and Dr Imtiaz Majid, while the councillor close to Mr Boswell was David Baird.

Nicknamed “Don Coyleone”, Mr Coyle last year denied being linked to organised crime after a former SNP member’s car was destroyed in a fire, and claimed the police had exonerated him.

He said: “I’ve been accused of gangsterism and having links to organised crime. It’s outrageous. The police conducted a thorough investigation then sent me a letter saying the allegations are not true.”

Dr Majid was recently criticised by a sheriff for trying to cheat his ex-wife out of a fair divorce settlement by hiding assets and pretending to have lost a fortune to a gambling addiction.

He was ordered to pay the mother of his two children £150,000 after a sheriff said some of his evidence in court was “entirely unacceptable and incredible”; he is now appealing.

Two councillors who worked for Mr Boswell, Julie McAnulty and Paul Welsh, passed vetting.

A Labour spokesman said: “While Labour candidates are already campaigning against SNP cuts to vital local services like schools and care for the elderly, Nationalist HQ has only just realised some of their existing councillors aren't up to the job. "

An SNP spokesperson said: “There is an appeal process for all those applicants who were interviewed. We cannot comment on any individual case.”