LIBDEM MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton has been criticised for a tweet about a conversation between SNP youth activists which he "overheard" in Lerwick.
The Edinburgh Western MSP posted: "Overheard conversation yesterday in Lerwick: @theSNP youth activists out canvassing, resting on a wall and looking at 3 blocks of flats. 'F this, can’t be bothered, let’s just mark them all as SNP and head back the office.' Memo to SNP: don’t rely on your data #Shetland".
Overheard conversation yesterday in Lerwick: @theSNP youth activists out canvassing, resting on a wall and looking at 3 blocks of flats.
— Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP🔶 (@agcolehamilton) August 26, 2019
“F this, can’t be bothered, let’s just mark them all as SNP and head back the office.”
Memo to SNP: don’t rely on your data 🙊😂 #Shetland
In response, SNP staffer Chris Jones called the post an "awful smear" and said the activists weren't in Lerwick yesterday.
He wrote: "What an awful smear. I’ve been driving the @YSINational around the island - their energy and enthusiasm has been a joy to work with. Hang your head in shame @agcolehamilton for talking down young political activists. PS we were North of Brae yesterday..."
What an awful smear. I’ve been driving the @YSINational around the island - their energy and enthusiasm has been a joy to work with. Hang your head in shame @agcolehamilton for talking down young political activists.
— Chris Jones (@C9J) August 26, 2019
PS we were North of Brae yesterday... https://t.co/uff2c2apVb
Of course, Twitter users were quick to mock the MSP for the claim too - the post racked up more than 50 replies in just over half an hour, while it was only retweeted three times.
Looks like the LibDems are getting pretty rattled over this by-election ...
Unfortunately for Cole-Hamilton, it's not even the first time he's caused a stir on Twitter this month. Just a few weeks back the LibDem posted: "I was in Sainsbury’s this afternoon, unshaven, wearing canvass shorts and a star wars t-shirt, the checkout assistant says: 'I’ve started voting for your party & so’s my son. I’ve been @scottishlabour all my life, but not any more. Not after this week.' #LibDemNow @scotlibdems".
I was in Sainsbury’s this afternoon, unshaven, wearing canvass shorts and a star wars t-shirt, the checkout assistant says:
— Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP🔶 (@agcolehamilton) August 10, 2019
“I’ve started voting for your party & so’s my son. I’ve been @scottishlabour all my life, but not any more. Not after this week.”#LibDemNow@scotlibdems
On that occasion, even Labour MSP Neil Findlay made fun of him and branded Cole-Hamilton "Alex Hole Bimbleton" and a "Fib Dem".
Findlay posted: "I am Alex Hole Bimbleton (Fib Dem)- I have just left the house to be mobbed by adoring fans saying 'you are my saviour, where have you been all my life?' In my usual humble, self deprecating way I anointed them with the residue from my latest workout and said 'I shall return!'"
I am Alex Hole Bimbleton (Fib Dem)- I have just left the house to be mobbed by adoring fans saying “you are my saviour, where have you been all my life?” In my usual humble, self deprecating way I anointed them with the residue from my latest workout and said “I shall return!”
— Neil Findlay MSP (@NeilFindlay_MSP) August 10, 2019
The Shetland by-election is due to take place on Thursday. Let's see if Cole-Hamilton will overhear anymore conversations before then ...
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