We contacted Mr Murphy's team after Nicola Sturgeon called for Mr Murphy to let his constituents know his intentions ahead of the forthcoming General Election.

The SNP leader was in East Renfrewshire, on Monday, visiting Barrhead company McKean Developments to congratulate the firm on becoming the 100th Scottish business to secure Living Wage accreditation.

During her visit, we asked Ms Sturgeon if the time was right for Mr Murphy to say whether he intended to stand again for Westminster on May 7.

She said: “It’s probably getting very close to that time where the MP here really owes it to his constituents to say what he is going to do and the sooner we get to that position the better for the people who have a right to know, the people who live in East Renfrewshire.” Her words echo that of Barrhead-based SNP MSP Stewart Maxwell who last week called on Mr Murphy to ‘stop dragging his feet’ over his General Election intentions.

He said: “Jim Murphy must clarify now whether he plans to run again for East Renfrewshire in May’s General Election. The people of East Renfrewshire have a right to know what their MP is up to. Jim Murphy is letting down his constituents by continuing to drag his feet on the matter.” We asked Mr Murphy to respond to the First Minister's call for clarity and received the following email response.

It read: “Jim Murphy is the MP for East Renfrewshire and has been selected as Labour's candidate for this year's general election.

“The First Minister has a country to run and that's what she should be doing rather than getting involved in this sort of thing.

“Maybe it's just that the SNP are desperate for publicity locally, after all they come a very poor fourth even behind the Lib Dems at general elections here.

“This constituency is always a two horse race between Labour and the Tories and the SNP have no chance of winning here.” We forwarded the comment to Stewart Maxwell who accused Mr Murphy of showing a lack of principle.

He said: “If it is confirmed that Jim Murphy will be standing for election at both Westminster and Holyrood, it shows not only a lack of principle but a total lack of commitment to sincerely represent his constituents.

“This action would also prove that Jim Murphy’s primary concern is Jim Murphy, and that he is hedging his bets by standing in two different parliamentary elections. East Renfrewshire deserves an MP that will represent the community and not someone who is only willing to use constituents as a stepping stone for personal ambition.” Previously, speaking on the BBC’s Sunday Politics show, Mr Murphy said: “I’ve given a commitment that I’ll be in the Scottish Parliament in 2016 and Labour’s candidate for first minister.” Noting that Alex Salmond has previously fulfilled duties as an MP and MSP simultaneously, Mr Murphy added: “There is different ways of doing it but I think the easiest way to summarise it would be, I’ll be in the Scottish Parliament in 2016.

“I’ll be a candidate for first minister on behalf of the Labour Party then and the details of that, of course, we’ll announce nearer the time.”