AN SNP member seeking to run for a Holyrood seat has quit the party over alleged derogatory remarks about women.

Jordon Henderson, who was hoping to be a Edinburgh Southern candidate, made the decision yesterday after he was criticised for telling MSP Joan McAlpine to f*** off” on Twitter and making other comments about women.

He was reported to have said McAlpine was a “top rate a***hole” and suggested Joanna Cherry, MSP Ruth McGuire and McAlpine should lose their jobs over their stance on the Gender Recognition Act reform proposals.

In other tweets dating back to 2011 and 2012, he suggested an American reality show contestant needed “a punch to the f***y” and described someone he worked with as a “b****”.

Henderson has been in favour of the GRA reform plans, and has regularly spoken out in support of the move currently under consultation by the Scottish Government.

He apologised for the tweets, and said he looked back at “some of my tweets and cringe, but I’m not a robot, I’m a real human being”.

But he has now decided to drop out of the race for the Edinburgh South seat, currently held by Labour’s Daniel Johnson, and has resigned as an SNP member.

Henderson, whose partner is SNP MP Alyn Smith, said he did not want to impact his partner’s reputation and said there had been “fake tweets” circulating online.

He told The National’s sister paper, The Herald: “I have today cancelled my membership of the SNP. I have been appalled at the abuse I have received since I announced my intention to submit to vetting.

“Where I have apologised for previous tweets there are now many completely fake tweets in circulation which risk damaging my reputation as well as the Party and my partner.

“I will not be commenting further.”