A veteran SNP politician has been accused of promoting “disruptive activity” over his involvement with a pro-independence campaign group.

Councillor Kenny MacLaren shared a video from Now Scotland, of which he is a member, on Twitter, calling for a “summer of disobedience” and declaring “the status quo can get tae.”

The footage showed a Union Jack flag in flames, a sledgehammer smashing a television and the gesture of a hand raising its middle finger.

Conservative group leader Neill Graham claimed Councillor MacLaren, who represents Paisley Northwest, had been given a “platform to push this divisive and damaging rhetoric” by his party.

Councillor Graham, who represents Paisley Northeast and Ralston, said: “SNP councillors like Kenny MacLaren would rather waste their time and energy obsessing over Nicola Sturgeon’s plans for an unwanted and wildcat referendum than focusing on representing the people of Renfrewshire.

“Councillor MacLaren is already a committed member of this fringe group and has now given his wholehearted backing to disruptive activity in our communities.

“Local people want their representatives to be focused on the cost-of-living crisis, supporting our post-pandemic recovery, tackling our NHS backlog and fighting for local day-to-day services.

“The SNP are giving councillors like Kenny MacLaren the platform to push this divisive and damaging rhetoric through their obsession with pushing indyref2 at every turn.”

However, Councillor MacLaren branded his political rival’s comments “nonsense.”

He added: “Is he not aware that the Tories haven’t won an election in Scotland since 1955 and that, at the last Scottish Parliament elections, more independence supporting MSPs were elected by the public?

“It is the Scottish people who are calling for an independence referendum, as reflected in multiple election victories for the SNP and their core policy of independence for Scotland.

“As usual, Mr Graham doesn’t bother to check his facts. Now Scotland is an organisation which aims to promote Scottish independence and the video he refers to merely highlights the demands of our members – almost 2,000 across Scotland – who wanted to learn more about peaceful civil disobedience as used by many people and organisations across Scotland, from rent strikes to poll tax demos.

“And, as regards his nonsense about not supporting the communities I’m elected to represent, may I remind him that I was elected on the first round of the ballot and his Tory colleague never got near being elected.

“The people of Paisley Northwest know that you simply can’t trust a Tory.”