A NATS MSP sneakily labelled the SNP Commons chief Stephen Flynn a “p***K ” amid a backlash over his bid for two jobs at Holyrood and Westminster, The Scottish Sun can reveal.
In a coded message on X/Twitter, Emma Roddick attacked the decision and urged him to rethink.
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But insiders pointed out how the capital letters at the start of each sentence spelling out the X-rated insult.
The p***k jibe was later confirmed by a source close to Ms Roddick as deliberate.
A senior SNP source said: “This is infantile stuff.”
And opposition parties blasted the Nats for the spat, with Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie attacking them for “fighting like ferrets in a sack”.
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She added: “The SNP should focus on delivering for the people of Scotland rather than indulging in online spats.”
Ms Roddick took to social media on Tuesday to complain about Mr Flynn’s decision to put himself forward for selection for the Holyrood 2026 elections.
In the post, she said: “Party members set this rule for good reasons.
“Rightly, Douglas Ross was criticised for holding two roles simultaneously.
“I hope Stephen Flynn rethinks.
“Can’t imagine spending half my time in London & being a good MSP.
“Key that rules apply to everyone equally; men and women.”
Her comments were widely reported at the time – but the coded message only came to light after parly insiders pointed out what she had done.
A Scottish Tory spokesman said: “It doesn’t take Alan Turing to break this code. The SNP are tearing themselves apart and it seems they’re now engulfed in civil war across the North East.”
Mr Flynn faced a furious backlash after confirming he wanted to “double-job” and stay as an MP while also becoming an MSP.
Two other SNP MPs – Stephen Gethins and Dave Doogan – also confirmed they had handed in vetting papers to the party headquarters.
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However it is understood some within the party want to keep the existing rules which ban MPs sitting in both Holyrood and Westminster – brought in in 2021.
That rule change was done to effectively block firebrand leadership critic Joanna Cherry from challenging ex-Commons chief Angus Robertson for the Edinburgh Central seat at that Holyrood election.
John Swinney said earlier this week that no decision had been made about whether the party would change the rules.
It is understood the SNP’s ruling body, the National Executive Committee, will discuss the rules tomorrow.
The party’s selection process for the 2026 Holyrood election is expected to end in April next year, with candidates who fail vetting to be told by February.
Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf have also put their names forward for selection, but insiders believe neither will ultimately stand for re-election.
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Mr Flynn declined to comment, but a source close to him pointed to the fact Ms Roddick held onto her council seat for a year after being elected to Holyrood in 2021.
The MSP’s register of interests says she donated her salary of up to £20,000 per year to charity.
