SNP suspends activist over Better Together campaign director Blair McDougall death 'fantasy'

The SNP has suspended a party activist after he posted on social media that the former Better Together campaign director Blair McDougall should be “swinging from a lamp post”.

The tweet directed at McDougall, an ex-Labour strategist, read: “Tell us again the benefits of voting no. Lying Red Tory. You actually boast about this, you should be swinging from a lamp post.”

He wrote: “Wake up to another SNP member talking about executing me. He says he’s in the same seat as two SNP politicians who follow me. I don’t expect they’ll lift a finger.

“No SNP member ever has any of the other times I’ve shared SNP members posting fantasies about this. Just another day.”

Scottish LibDem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton condemned the behaviour.

He said: “Too much hate in Scottish politics. At a time we are witness to widespread political murder on European soil for the first time this century, this is utterly grim.”

Labour MP Chris Bryant also responded: “This is appalling. Nobody should have to put up with this and the police should investigate”.

McDougall detailed further allegations against others who suggested opposition politicians should be “hung”.

He said: “Encouragingly the SNP have been in touch requesting info.

“I’ve sent [and] specifically asked if they want further details of members abusing opponents as ‘traitors’ [and] ‘quislings’.

“The FM says that language is unacceptable so I assume is a disciplinary issue. Let’s see what they say.”

It comes after SNP MP Ian Blackford told the Sunday Times that he wanted to tackle “keyboard warriors” for online abuse across the political spectrum.

He said almost all members of parliament he knows from every party had suffered threats of violence or death.

A spokesperson said: “There is absolutely no excuse for abuse or threats in Scottish public life.”