The SNP have been accused of “doctoring” a Holyrood report on Scotland’s place in Europe to reflect a pro-independence position.
The charge is the latest from opposition members that Nationalists are abusing their majority position in the Scottish Parliament in order to stifle criticism.
The European and External Affairs committee yesterday published its long-awaited report into an independent Scotland’s place in Europe.
However, it emerged the SNP used their majority position on the committee to block the publication of an original draft written by a parliamentary official that raised questions over Nationalist claims on EU membership.
SNP members also inserted an extra section on concerns about a possible UK exit from the European Union.
The SNP have recently been accused of adopting a “slavish cult of obedience” towards their leadership rather than trying to hold the government to account.
Earlier this week, the party used its majority in the chamber to squash a no confidence motion in Health Secretary Alex Neil.
Last week, opposition parties issued their own minority report voicing concerns over the creation of Police Scotland because they claimed Nationalists had watered down public audit committee findings.
Highlands and Islands Tory MSP Jamie McGrigor, who sits on the European committee, said: “The original draft report produced by the clerks was a clear, impartial reflection of the evidence the committee had received.
“However, it soon became clear the SNP members wanted to doctor this and include more pro-independence arguments, instead of a true record of what was heard.”
Labour committee member Alex Rowley said: “We are completely unsatisfied with the report and its conclusions, which differ greatly from the original draft. The SNP has used its in-built majority to gag opposing views, and that is a disgrace.
“I’m concerned that this is now becoming a pattern.”
But SNP member Willie Coffey said: “SNP MSPs on committees take their roles very seriously and it must be recognised that the cross-party nature of committee work means that there are sometimes areas on which agreement can’t be reached. In these cases, votes are taken and a democratic decision is reached.”