Alba candidate Dr Jim Walker called Nicola Sturgeon 'a cow' after party launched

Asked for comment on Salmond’s new party, which aims to create a “supermajority” for Yes in the Scottish Parliament, Sturgeon had described the former SNP leader as a “gambler”.

She has been highly critical of the new Alba Party, which so far has seen two SNP MPs, councillors and a former boxer join as candidates.

This morning Dr Jim Walker, chief economist at Aletheia Capital, confirmed he would be returning from Hong Kong to stand for Alba on the Central Scotland list.

READ MORE: Investment strategist Dr Jim Walker to stand for Alex Salmond's Alba Party

In a statement Walker explained he hopes to see the economic benefits of independence “recast for the post-Brexit age”.

Salmond, who said at the party launch that his campaign would be “entirely positive”, welcomed Walker’s expertise.

“Only last Friday at our launch I was told I would be leading a one-man band. Already we are fielding a political orchestra of women and men of ability from a range of backgrounds to help take the nation forward,” he said.

Hours after Walker was announced this morning, Twitter users spotted that the economist had described the First Minister as a “cow” just days prior.

One Twitter user had replied to Sturgeon’s “gambler” comment saying: “So is everybody who plays bingo, everybody who buys a lottery ticket, folk wi pensions schemes, folk wi shares … And anybody who ever got on a bus in the last year anaw.”

In response, Walker wrote: “What a cow.”

The tweet was later deleted and Walker apologised. 

“I have removed the tweet which was an inappropriate response to what I saw as mudslinging by the First Minister. To use today’s term, I am pretty mortified," he wrote in a statement.

“I freely apologise to her for the comment and also to my fellow Alba candidates.

“We must follow totally the leadership of Alex Salmond and rise above all negativity as we make the case for our noble cause of independence for our country.”

The finding came after fellow Alba Party candidate Alex Arthur issued a statement over highly offensive tweets discovered on his own profile.

The posts included disparaging remarks about “beggars”, Gypsies and AIDS patients, as well as posts claiming he doesn’t need to get a coronavirus vaccine.

In January last year, he posted: “Them Romanian beggars in Edinburgh ain’t hungry!! Just drove past them all ready to switch up begging posts and ALL em fat as big juicy over fed pigs!”

Arthur also raised doubts about the Covid-19 vaccination. He wrote: "I’d rather not take an injection for something my perfectly good immune system can fight of quite easily. I was happy my parents & grandparents got it. I just don’t believe I need it."

One person, who described themselves as an AIDS and Covid survivor, hit back at the claim. They replied: "It's people like you that's the main reason the virus is spreading. Would you be able to justify your opinion to someone who's having life threatening treatment delayed because of covid?"

Arthur appeared to mock them in response, tweeting: "There is not solid evidence that the vaccine stops you spreading the virus. Although condoms prevent you spreading viruses, maybe you should have thought of that. Don't throw stones wee man."

The former boxer has now apologised for “any unintended offence”.

READ MORE: Alba Party's Alex Arthur apologises for grossly offensive tweets

In a statement issued on social media, he wrote: “I am a working class boxer who shoots from the hip. I don't have spin doctors. But I want to clarify some points, and apologise for any offence that could have been avoided if I'd thought more about my words.

“We were told that there was no evidence that the vaccine stops transmission, and as a young and healthy man I am not in any of the risk groups. Since then it's become clear that vaccinations are working, and are the way we will get out of this pandemic and all of the destruction it's causing.

“Any comments about beggars that now look inappropriate are being misinterpreted, but that is my fault for the wording. I am not in any way racist as anyone who knows me will confirm. I have an issue with genuine homelessness whoever it is, and will work to help tackle that. I have seen first-hand the damage that poverty causes.”

He continued: “I apologise for any unintended offence, but do not want it to distract from my central cause which is ALL of the people who live in Scotland. I can add a lot of real life experience that professional politicians don't have, and we can't leave things to people who have never put a foot wrong.

“I will make no further comment on this, much as people want to cause me trouble for their own purposes.

“Now that I am trying to be a politician, I will not hold my tongue, but I will mind it.”