A POPULAR pro-independence Twitter account has issued an update after its account was suddenly deactivated.
MSM Monitor, which had around 38,000 followers, tweets from the handle @msm_monitor and was known for highlighting perceived bias in the media.
Many Twitter users noticed the account had disappeared on Wednesday evening despite tweeting earlier in the day.
In a thread posted on Thursday morning, it was explained that the account had been deactivated and that followers “deserve an explanation”.
A thread from MSM Monitor read: “Over the course of the SNP leadership contest we’ve detected a rather poisonous tone amongst some Yessers on Twitter. Many appear to have developed a pathological loathing towards one or other of the two main contenders.
Yesterday we de-activated our account. We gave no notice. Followers deserve an explanation. Here it is.
— MSM Monitor (@msm_monitor) March 16, 2023
THREAD 1-6
“No, not concerns about policy or suitability, but actual loathing. Kate Forbes is a right-wing bigot, young voters will desert the party if she wins. Humza Yousaf is an inept compulsive liar; the electorate don’t like him.
“Kate isn’t a right-wing bigot. Nobody knows how young people will react to her as FM. Similarly, Humza isn’t an inept liar. Nobody knows how popular he’ll be as FM. Our sense is that this tribal loathing is growing on Twitter as people become more entrenched.”
The thread went on to explain that the account would remain “live but dormant” until the SNP leadership race is over.
“Our hope is the toxicity, and lack of judgement, the contest has generated will subside. That folk come together again, get behind whoever wins and get back to arguing the case for independence.
READ MORE: Questions for the next SNP leader the hustings didn't touch
“If not, then we’ll quietly de-activate the account for good and wish you all good luck. The upside of that will be that we’ll no longer have to monitor BBC Scotland output. So let’s see what happens after the contest.”
The race to succeed Nicola Sturgeon remains ongoing with Kate Forbes and Ash Regan calling for independent auditors to oversee the voting process amid calls for the SNP to publish details on its membership.
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