AN Alba Party candidate who called Nicola Sturgeon “a cow” has issued an apology and deleted his tweet after it was uncovered earlier today.
Dr Jim Walker, the chief economist at Aletheia Capital, said he was “pretty mortified” by the post.
Walker is set to stand on the Central Scotland list this May, it was confirmed this morning by the new party.
Alex Salmond launched list-only Alba last week with the aim of creating a pro-independence “supermajority” in the Scottish Parliament. He told reporters and bloggers present that he wants to have an “entirely positive” campaign.
Nicola Sturgeon has been critical of the strategy, and described Salmond as a “gambler” during an interview with Sky at the weekend. Replying to her comments on Twitter, Walker wrote: “What a cow.”
READ MORE: Alba candidate called Nicola Sturgeon 'a cow' after party launched
The tweet was discovered this morning after a row over offensive posts from fellow Alba candidate Alex Arthur.
In a social media statement this afternoon Walker confirmed he had taken down the tweet about the First Minister.
“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.
“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 candidate Arthur (below) issued a statement over 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.
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: Investment strategist Dr Jim Walker to stand for Alex Salmond's Alba Party
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.”
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