THE Tory MP accused of shouting "suicide" at Ian Blackford has said his remarks were taken out of context – and called the SNP a "petty bunch of wankers".

Ian Liddell-Grainger has now claimed that he was talking about "political suicide" when he made the widely criticised comment.

WATCH: Tory MP in vile 'suicide' heckle towards SNP in Commons

Speaking to the Somserset County Gazette, he said: “I was misquoted.

"I wasn’t even in the chamber, I wasn’t even there when they made the point of order. It was during Points of Order, not even in the main debate, around 10 minutes after I’d left.

“They’re a petty bunch of wankers who have ruined my country – I am a Scotsman.

“They’ve done it out of mischief, this is how they operate.

“The tweets come from Stewart McDonald, I don’t know him. I’m hardly going to lose sleep over it.

“It’s the coward's way of doing stuff. As a fellow Scot I’m deeply embarrassed by them.”

He said he would "never make light of mental health", adding: "I'm an ex-soldier. I am more acute to mental health than most.

"Of course I wouldn't make light of mental health. It's not something I have ever done in my political career and nor would I ever."

The SNP’s deputy leader at Westminster, Kirsty Blackman, tweeted: “Absolutely no contrition from Ian Liddell-Grainger for suggesting that Ian Blackford should commit suicide on Tuesday night. Liddell-Grainger must offer an unqualified apology.”

The remark can be heard in video clips from the House of Commons, as MPs discussed points of order amid the lack of debate on the EU Withdrawal Bill's impact on devolution.

SNP Westminster leader Blackford begins by saying: "What options are available to us in this house ..."

A Tory MP could then be heard shouting: "Suicide."

Blackford continues: " ... to ensure that the Government understands real concerns amongst people in Scotland at this unprecedented power grab, and how can we make sure that our voices are heard?"

The SNP have now called for all MPs to have suicide awareness training in the wake of the incident.

SNP frontbencher Alan Brown spoke emotionally about friends and constituents who had been affected by suicide as he called on Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom to take action.

Brown, speaking during business questions, said: "I've been at the funeral of one of my best friends' son who'd committed suicide, I've been at the funeral of one of my early childhood friends who'd committed suicide, I had to help a constituent get his son sectioned for his own safety because he was suicidal.

"So therefore I too want to put on record my disgust at [Ian Liddell-Grainger] for shouting that suicide was an option for the leader of the SNP to consider, it's completely out of order. So I'd like to ask the Leader of House if she can make a Government statement about what's been done to educate members in their behaviour."

SNP MP Marion Fellows earlier said: "The families and friends of the far too many young men in and around my constituency who have recently committed suicide were rightly appalled, as am I."

Leadsom said she was unaware of the incident, but added: "Mr Speaker and I have both made clear that unacceptable language, threatening language, violent language and of course offensive language should not be used at any time, let alone in the chamber."

Speaker John Bercow added that he did not hear the remark, but said: "It is not a term that should be bandied about in the spirit of political polemics."

Bercow, responding to a later point of order from Blackford, told MPs: "I have just been advised by a Government whip that the member concerned, who is not present at the moment, maintains that he was referring to political suicide.

"However, I would just say I do think this underlines the importance of us using language with great care."

Liddell-Grainger was criticised by charities, including the Mental Health Foundation.

They said: “Suicide is a serious matter. According to the most recent figures almost 6000 people took their own lives across the UK in one year. It is regrettable that, on the same day that suicide prevention was being discussed in the Scottish Parliament, an MP would apparently use suicide as a slur towards their colleagues.

Language is important and we shouldn’t tolerate this behaviour in any workplace, let alone an elected parliament.

“Organisations across the country are working tirelessly to better the country’s mental health, including a range of suicide prevention programmes.

"Suicide is never the answer, and no society should tolerate the desperation that would lead a person to take their own life. For this reason we urge all politicians to refrain from using language that promotes suicidal thinking.

"We need to remember that language is important and we urge all elected representatives to support the local and national suicide prevention work that is happening right across the country.”