A Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate hoping to be the next MP for Banff and Buchan is appealing to Labour supporters to vote for him.

David Evans spoke out after Labour suspended its candidate Masoomul Sumon Hoque when it emerged he had been accused of a string of motoring offences – including drink-driving.

The move means that Labour does not officially have a candidate standing in the north-east constituency – even though it will appear that way on the ballot paper.

Mr Evans urged people opposed to more “ideologically motivated” Conservative budget cuts to back him, not the SNP.

“After the release of the Institute for Fiscal Studies manifesto analysis it is apparent that the SNP’s anti-austerity stance is little more than bluff’,” he added.

“Their aim in Westminster is to cause division and disruption, not to fight in the best interests of the constituents of Banff and Buchan

“The Liberal Democrats in government have curbed the worst of the Tories, preventing their proposals to allow employers to fire at will without reason and to pay public sector workers in Scotland less than their south-eastern counterparts.

“The only way to ensure the Tories don’t govern like true Tories is to put Lib Dem MPs in Westminster.”

Hoque appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court to face five charges involving a blue Maserati Quattroporte 4.2 V8 on Friday.

Scottish Labour said the 32-year-old did not inform the party during the candidate selection process that he had been accused of multiple offences on May 1 last year in Aberdeen’s Bridge Street.

A spokesman for the Electoral Commission said Hoque could potentially be elected an independent MP on May 7 and later represent Labour if his suspension was lifted.

SNP candidate Eilidh Whiteford is the favourite to win the seat and is defending a 4,027 majority.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has insisted the general election was about strengthening Scotland’s voice at Westminster, not independence.

She claims ending austerity by increasing spending by 0.5% above inflation while cutting the deficit and national debt on a yearly basis would free up £140billion across the UK to invest in skills, infrastructure, the NHS and other public services.