The National:

A SCOTTISH Labour MP has drawn anger after branding a bid for the Scottish Parliament “the Haggis run”.

Torcuil Crichton, the former Daily Record journalist who became the MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar after the July General Election, has been accused of “basking in Scottish cringe” after he made the comment on social media.

Crichton’s jab came as The National reported that SNP MP Stephen Gethins had lodged an application to stand for Holyrood, joining SNP Westminster group leader Stephen Flynn in a bid for two parliamentary seats.

Sharing this paper’s post, Crichton wrote: “Not another one on the Haggis run?”

The dismissive reference to Holyrood drew an outpouring of responses, which saw the Labour man accused of showing a “contempt for devolution”.

Among them, SNP MSP Elena Whitham jibed back: “I'd much rather be on ‘the Haggis run’ than basking in my own Scottish cringe doon by [raised eyebrow emoji].”

In a reference to the sycophantic and subservient Dickens character, her colleague James Dornan added: “He's simply continuing the Uriah Heep type behaviour he exhibited when he was an esteemed member of Scotland's glorious media.”

Elsewhere, the MSM Monitor account shared a screenshot of Crichton’s post, writing: “Ah, we can see the benches of Westminster chuckle as the House Jock performs for them.

“Can't wait for his next one. Will it be porridge? His native Gaelic maybe? Bagpipes even?”

Others accused the Scottish Labour MP of giving “an exemplary demonstration of Caledonian cringe”.

And some suggested Crichton was on “the ermine run” – implying he is angling for a seat in the House of Lords (the one Labour claimed they’d abolish).