Scotland's culture minister has denied accusations of "hypocrisy" after he attended a meeting arranged to fight hospital cuts and then voted for the measures.

Mike Watson said he "made it clear" at the meeting that while he had opposed the shake-up he was bound by his position as a Scottish Executive minister to vote with his cabinet colleagues.

The South East Area Health Forum met on Monday to endorse a motion by the Scottish National Party condemning the plans, which would see the Victoria Infirmary on the south side of the city downgraded.

Nicola Sturgeon: Call for resignation

Mr Watson said he told those at meeting that he was not supporting the motion, but others present said he had participated in the discussion.

On Thursday, the Glasgow Cathcart MSP voted for the cuts, despite publicly criticising the plans for the Victoria, which is in his constituency.

Opposition politicians have accused him of breaching cabinet collective responsibility by speaking out against government policy and have demanded his resignation.

However, Mr Watson said he was entitled to voice the concerns of his constituents and that it did not affect his standing as a minister.

Responding to newspaper reports, Mr Watson said: "I have attended these meetings regularly, both as an MSP and a Westminster MP.

"No-one at this meeting was in any doubt that I would be supporting the executive in the debate as I made this clear three weeks earlier.

'Drafting of the motion'

"I also made it clear at the meeting that I would be standing back from any association with the wording of the motion.

"I didn't contribute to the drafting of the motion and reports of my involvement in the meeting are an exaggeration."

However Scottish National Party health spokeswoman Nicola Sturgeon accused Mr Watson of "rank hypocrisy" and of betraying his constituents.

The Glasgow List MSP, who was also at the meeting, said: "His presence at the meeting suggests in itself he was against the reorganisation.

Bill Aitken: Surprised at minister's presence

"The meeting wasn't to discuss the merits of the plan, it was understood that everybody round the table was against it.

"Mike wasn't the most vocal contributor to the discussion and he made it clear he wouldn't be voting for the motion, but he did express views on some of the detail of the wording."

Ms Sturgeon said the minister could not promise his constituents one thing and then do the opposite.

"I think his credibility is in tatters and the best thing he could do is resign as a minister," she said:

Glasgow Tory MSP Bill Aitken also questioned Mr Watson's presence at the meeting and told BBC Scotland: "I was astonished when I saw him sitting there.

"The fact of the matter is that he is in a position of conflict and he should not have been there, in my view.

"He has left himself open to serious criticism and the whole situation as far as Mike Watson is concerned is very embarrassing."