THE Scottish Conservatives are being urged to kick out a senior Tory councillor who was revealed as the man behind a Unionist Twitter troll account.
Arbroath East and Lunan councillor Derek Wann has finally admitted running the Lady Whistledown (AngusFreeofSNP) profile, which shared posts calling Nicola Sturgeon the “Bute House golem” and mocked Dundee’s record on drug deaths.
Earlier this week, following a story from The Courier, The National revealed that the final two digits on the phone number attached to the troll account matched the councillor’s own number.
Shortly after The National contacted Wann for comment on the matter, the account was deleted.
READ MORE: New evidence Tory councillor may be behind anti-SNP Twitter troll account
The SNP say Douglas Ross must now take decisive action against the councillor in what they’re calling a “serious test” of his leadership.
SNP MSP Rona Mackay said: “There is no place in politics for such obnoxious and sleekit behaviour. Derek Wann’s conduct is absolutely indefensible, particularly in mocking drugs deaths.
“This is a serious test of Mr Ross’s leadership – he must act without delay. There is no need for an investigation when the man at the centre of it all has already admitted his atrocious behaviour."
Wann (below) was first linked to the anonymous account when it shared a link to a council press release – where he was the only person quoted – with the caption “my comments”.
The councillor had posted the same press release on his own official Facebook page 15 minutes beforehand.
The Lady Whistledown profile was filled with vicious posts criticising the First Minister - including one calling her a "f****** ned" and plenty retweeting of Unionist antagonists, prior to its deletion on Wednesday afternoon.
Wann initially denied the account was his, telling The Courier: "It’s definitely not my account, I can tell you that 100%.
“At the end of the day, I have no comment because it’s not my account. If somebody is putting this online, there’s not much I can do.
“It could be somebody I know but I don’t think it is.
“My Facebook account is open, my councillor Twitter account is open. It bewilders me that this is being linked to me in any way.”
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