Scotland isn’t a place where you go on your holidays. We’re not England’s holiday park
SNP councillor’s extraordinary rant at BBC radio presenter
AN SNP councillor launched a vicious tirade at an English DJ who said she had enjoyed breaks in Scotland as a child, telling her: ‘We are not England’s holiday park.’
Dr Moira Shemilt, a councillor in West Lothian, criticised the BBC’s Liz Kershaw amid a row over the frosty reception Nicola Sturgeon gave Boris Johnson at Bute House this week.
On Twitter, Miss Kershaw, 60, had poured scorn on the First Minister’s ‘utopia of liberalism, internationalism, tolerance and inclusion’, adding: ‘Can’t even be civil to a visitor.’
Following a backlash from SNP supporters, Miss Kershaw tweeted: ‘When I was a child we used to go to Scotland every year for six weeks’ summer holidays. Dornoch, Oban, Skye, Arisaig, Iona etc. and was plagued by midges.
‘Now I’ve commented on Scottish politics, I’m attacked by Nats. Loved Scotland then and still do.’
But Dr Shemilt, 68, councillor for Livingston South, retorted: ‘Scotland isn’t a place where you go on your holidays! We are not England’s holiday park.
‘Do yourself and us a favour, read some books. Have a think about the model of Colonialism.’
Pro-Union supporters claimed Dr Shemilt was anti-English and urged the SNP to take action.
Pamela Nash, chief executive of anti-independence campaign group Scotland in Union, said: ‘This is an appalling tweet and the SNP should consider what action it is going to take.
‘It’s disappointing that a Nationalist politician is so keen to talk Scotland down rather than encourage people from England and further afield to visit and work in our country.
‘We should celebrate what unites us across the United Kingdom, not focus on division.’
Tourism is worth more than £11billion to the Scottish economy, according to an assessment by VisitScotland, which yesterday declined to comment on Dr Shemilt’s tweet.
The outburst is the latest in a series of controversial tweets from the councillor – an academic in the field of education – and angered bosses at SNP headquarters. Yesterday she appeared to have deleted her Twitter account.
Last year, she suggested Brexit was worse than IRA bombings, saying she had ‘lived through the three-day week, miners’ strike, Poll Tax, Thatcher, Tory sleaze, Blair’s illegal war, the IRA bombings, horrendous 80s inflation’ and Brexit was worse ‘by a country mile’.
In 2017, she sparked anger by criticising East Renfrewshire Tory MP Paul Masterton for letting his toddler daughter wear pink on her first day at nursery.
She wrote: ‘Pink and sheep for girls. Tuff trucks for boys. #genderstereotyping.’
When the MP pointed out that Daisy chose to wear pink, Dr Shemilt did a U-turn and said sorry – then deleted her account. In 2014, Dr Shemilt was blasted for calling a pro-Union campaigner a ‘quisling. She also branded ex-Labour MP Ian Davidson a ‘traitor’ for voting No.
Last night Dr Shemilt did not respond to requests for comment on the latest row.
A Scottish Tory spokesman said: ‘No matter the official party line, the SNP’s anti-English agenda is never far from the surface.
‘This exposes the driving force behind this toxic brand of Nationalism.’
An SNP spokesman said: ‘The views expressed in this deleted tweet in no way represent the SNP. Councillor Shemilt has written to Miss Kershaw to express her sincere and unreserved apologies.’
In 2017, Miss Sturgeon was accused of failing to act on vile taunts and offensive behaviour by several SNP election candidates.
A Scottish Daily Mail investigation unearthed controversies involving several of the people selected by the SNP to stand in Theresa May’s snap election.
They included candidates questioning if No voters had the right to sing Flower of Scotland, and posting offensive messages on the Westminster terror attack.
The disclosures came after the SNP leader told her supporters to debate the issue of independence with ‘courtesy and respect’.
Emma Cowing – Page 21
‘Celebrate what unites us’