The Western Isles MP announced on Wednesday he would continue to sit as an independent following a week's suspension handed down after a row with the party's chief whip, Brendan O'Hara.

Mr MacNeil said his decision was not linked to that incident, and instead criticised the SNP over its independence strategy.

He branded the party "utterly clueless" over its plan and said the "urgency for independence is absent".

He said he would only rejoin following the party's conference in October if it "is clear that the SNP are pursuing independence".

Following his declaration, Mr MacNeil was contacted by the SNP's national secretary on Wednesday and advised his decision was reportedly in breach of the party's code of conduct.

The matter has since been referred to the party's member conduct committee, with Mr MacNeil's party membership administratively suspended while the committee considers the matter.

Mr MacNeil, who has sat in the House of Commons since 2005, told Sky News: "I did not leave the SNP and I hope the SNP haven't left me, as that was what went wrong with Labour in Scotland."

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An SNP spokesperson said: "Angus MacNeil MP was advised by the SNP national secretary on Wednesday that she considered him to be in breach of the party's code of conduct by his decision to resign from the SNP Westminster parliamentary group.

"Having acknowledged this, Mr MacNeil did not take up the offer to rejoin the SNP parliamentary group and the matter was, therefore, yesterday referred to the SNP member conduct committee for consideration."