CLYDEBANK’S MSP pulled out of a controversial rally at the weekend, citing a long-standing commitment to the town’s asbestos group.

Gil Paterson was promoted as a speaker at the Hope Over Fear gathering in Glasgow on Saturday, organised by a firm listing convicted perjurer Tommy Sheridan as secretary, with his wife Gail as director.

Mr Paterson was to be one of a number of SNP politicians to speak in George Square, but many pulled out late last week after objections to being associated with Mr Sheridan.

The Post asked Mr Paterson before and after the rally why he was going to attend, but he failed to clarify this.

His spokewoman said Mr Paterson was speaking to Clydebank Asbestos Group about a potential Bill in the Scottish Parliament to enable the government to recover costs incurred by the NHS for care and treatment related to industrial disease, from the companies responsible.

A few hundred independence supporters attended the rally, led by former MSP Sheridan. MSP Sandra White and MP Angus MacNeil spoke at the event, which included an edited version of the film Braveheart.

A spokesman for Hope Over Fear insisted Mr Sheridan was not the firm’s secretary and said Mr Paterson had contacted organisers by email on Thursday night saying he believed the rally was affiliated to the Solidarity Party.

The political party, founded by Mr Sheridan, was the origin of Hope Over Fear in 2014, but organisers said it is now cross-party.

Tory MSP Maurice Golden said in a statement before the rally: “As the local MSP I would have thought Gil Paterson would have found it more beneficial to spend time in his local constituency.

“Instead he is busy sharing a platform with the discredited Tommy Sheridan and championing a second referendum that people are sick and tired of hearing about.”

Mr Paterson hit back and said the Tories should “come clean” about the so-called “dark money scandal”.

He said: “Tory list MSPs surely have more to worry about than independence rallies. Mr Golden should hang his head in shame about the effects of Tory welfare cuts on the poorest and most vulnerable in our communities, not to mention the Brexit fiasco.”