THE Scottish Tories have issued a response after one of their MSPs caused a backlash on social media with a tweet about the current weather in Europe.
We previously told how Murdo Fraser was called out after deleting an ill-informed tweet which read: “Can we have some of that Mediterranean heatwave here please? It’s horribly chilly for July, have just had to put a winter jumper on.”
The heatwave has sparked crises across Europe, with Italy seeing both fires and flooding in different parts of the country, and Greek authorities fighting "more than 50 [blazes] a day".
The MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife was unable to delete his Twitter post before many had screenshotted it.
The National approached the Scottish Conservatives to ask if they had any response.
The party claimed that Fraser's tweet was deleeted because it was being “misrepresented” by his opponents.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Tories said: “This was intended as a light-hearted reference to the chilly weather we are currently experiencing, which was deleted as soon as it became apparent that it was being misrepresented by political opponents.”
Wildfires are continuing to rage across Europe with many holidaymakers forced to return from Rhodes in Greece.
Thousands have been rescued from fire-hit parts of the popular holiday island while others are having to cancel planned trips.
As many as 10,000 people form the UK are estimated to be in Rhodes, the Foreign Office has said, with 30,000 due to head there in the next few weeks, according to The Times.
READ MORE: George Foulkes: 'UK is not a Union of equals and never was'
Sarah George, 39 and from Edinburgh, told of her concern after opening a bar on the island a few weeks before the wildfires hit.
She told the PA News agency: “Things were going beautifully and now this has all happened.
“Obviously this is less than ideal, it’s a worry about what’s going to happen in the years to come.”
It is estimated that more than 40 people have died in wildfires across Algeria, Italy and Greece.
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