A SCOTTISH Tory councillor has been branded an “eejit” and urged to resign after posing for a selfie outside a gym in England.

Fife representative Darren Watt, who is also a candidate for the Cowdenbeath constituency at next year’s Holyrood election, boasted about a trip to Bannatyne’s Health Club and Spa while on a weekend visit to Carlisle.

Gyms re-opened in England on July 25 but will remain shut in Scotland until at least September 14.

Watt tweeted on Sunday: “You can take our gyms, leisure centres and health clubs but you’ll never take our freedom!”

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His trip to Carlisle came after Nicola Sturgeon had told Scots not to visit the north-west of England due to a Covid-19 spike in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and parts of Lancashire.

Fife SNP councillor Alice McGarry dubbed Watt “an absolute disgrace”.

She said: “The bairns go back to school next week but are being endangered by eejits like Tory councillor Darren Watt.

“He thinks it’s fine to go to a high risk area in England simply to put two fingers up to the Scottish Government and he boasts about his idiocy, posting selfies and issuing press releases.

“He risks bringing the virus back to Fife. An absolute disgrace who ought to resign now.”

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Watt insisted his trip was for a “much needed rest” and did not contradict the Scottish Government’s health guidelines since Carlisle was not listed as one of the at-risk areas in the north west.

He responded “I have been working tirelessly from home since March and I decided to take this very rare opportunity to get away for a couple of days for much needed rest, recovery and relaxation but also to catch up on my backlog of emails and casework.

“I have been caring for and homeschooling my children on top of my duties as a local councillor.

“This has proven to be extremely challenging considering we’ve all been stuck under the one roof for some time.

“I am visiting Carlisle as it is a beautiful and welcoming part of north west England and is easily accessible with many great local amenities and attractions nearby, including a Bannatyne’s Health Club which is literally a stone’s throw from the hotel I’m staying in.”