NICOLA Sturgeon has welcomed the suspension of the Tory activist who mocked the First Minister’s miscarriage.
Speaking to ITV, the SNP leader described the comments as “hurtful”.
On Wednesday we told of how Jane Lax, the Tory party's treasurer in Moray, had traded so-called jokes about the SNP leader’s baby loss with other unionists on Twitter.
The Tories then suspended her and promised she would be subject to a “disciplinary procedure”.
READ MORE: Tory jokes about Nicola Sturgeon's miscarriage on Twitter
WATCH: Nicola Sturgeon responds to suspension of Tory over miscarriage tweet
It all started when the anonymous twitter account, Agent P shared an interview in which Sturgeon detailed the abuse she receives online.
Replying, Gillian Sparrow, a retired midwife from Dumfrieshire with a record of organising pro-union campaigns, tweeted: “Has she mentions [sic] her fictional miscarriage yet?”
Lax then replied: “Is that when she dropped a book?” She then posted three laughing emojis.
The exchange has shocked the country.
Responding, the First Minister said: “I absolutely think that it's right for her to be suspended.
“Obviously these comments are hurtful and not just hurtful and painful to me and people close to me, but I've been contact by women who've also suffered miscarriage and these kind of comments also stir up hurtful and painful feelings in others as well.
“I welcome that she's been suspended. I don't particularly want to talk too much about what she said as I don't want to dignify it with a response.
“I would say more generally though, that for anyone who finds their political disagreement with somebody leading to making such offensive comment really needs to take a long hard look at themselves and really think about what kind of person they are.
“Hopefully she will learn from this.”
While Lax hasn’t spoken publicly about the row, a Scottish Tory spokesman says she is "extremely apologetic".
SNP MSP Gail Ross has called on the Tories not to sweep the disciplinary process under the carpet.
"This was appalling behaviour, and Ms Lax should be ashamed.
"No politician should have to face these vile comments, and it's sickening to see this kind of attitude rearing its head within the Scottish Tory party again.
"This case cannot be swept under the carpet - the Scottish Tories must make the outcome of their disciplinary procedure public."
Sturgeon revealed in the 2016 that she and husband Peter Murrell had lost a baby while she was serving as deputy First Minister.
In an interview for the book, Scottish National Party Leaders, Sturgeon spoke about how she suffered a miscarriage when she was 40, shortly before the 2011 Scottish parliamentary election campaign period.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel