The leader of West Dunbartonshire Council has called on Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie to resign from the Scottish Parliament for spreading 'misinformation' about deaths at a care home in the town.

In a fierce attack on the MSP, Councillor Jonathan McColl has accused her of using the coronavirus pandemic and "the pain of those involved" to score cheap political points.

The council leader's comments come after Ms Baillie said Crosslet House care home, run by West Dunbartonshire Council, has had 16 residents' deaths since March 24 and five staff had tested positive for Covid-19 with one staff member now in hospital.

She said this was despite the care home’s bosses claiming as late as Monday that the home was covid-19 free and that the council was following Government advice.

Ms Baillie added that, as of Tuesday, Crosslet House "has not had a single resident tested for covid-19".

She called for admissions to the home to be stopped immediately and raised the covid-19 deaths and outbreak in Crosslet House with Jeane Freeman, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport.

In a statement, the MSP said Ms Freeman had called the situation at Crosslet House “utterly shameful and completely unacceptable” and committed to speaking with the health board's director of public health to ensure that tests are carried out on symptomatic residents and that measures are taken to protect both residents and staff.

However, Councillor McCall has accused Ms Baillie - deputy leader of Scottish Labour - of spreading misinformation and scaring vulnerable elderly people and their families to score political points.

He said the Health and Social Care Partnership and council are following Scottish Government guidance and instruction to the letter, and on the advice of Public Health Scotland the care home was closed to new admissions on April 4.

He added: “Staff and residents who are showing symptoms have and are being tested, and councillors are being properly briefed with all of the information we need to do our job of scrutiny and providing public reassurance.

"At no point has anyone claimed the care home was ‘covid free’; families are being kept fully informed and our residents are receiving the highest possible standard of care, with appropriate isolation and social distancing protocols being followed.

“It’s bad enough that Jackie Baillie has chosen to use covid-19 to raise her personal profile, but to do so by deliberately spreading inaccurate information is irresponsible and shows a total disregard for the feelings of the deceased's families, as well as insulting our committed and dedicated staff.

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"How dare she use this pandemic and the pain of those involved to score cheap political points.

"She must apologise to our staff and the public and immediately resign from the Scottish Parliament. Nothing less is acceptable.”

Ms Baillie hit back at Cllr McColl's comments, saying at no point had there been any misinformation.

She said: "I have always had and always will use my position as an MSP to stand up for all of my constituents.

"When several Crosslet House staff and family members came to me with their experiences – distraught at the loss of so many residents and seeking help, I wasn’t going to sit on the side-lines and say nothing.

“At no point has there been any misinformation from me - there has been no testing of residents for covid 19 before the start of this week and families and staff have all told me that the information they were given is that the home was ‘covid 19 free’.

“The fact that the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Jeane Freeman, called the situation at Crosslet House ‘utterly shameful’ shows how far this is from party politics.

“The least I would expect of a council leader being presented with such a devastating number of deaths would be to instruct an urgent investigation. I will never apologise for standing up for my constituents and fighting for answers for the loved ones who have sadly lost their lives.”