ONE of Scotland's leading councillors has demanded Nicola Sturgeon axe a local elections candidate in the first high-profile social media 'Nazi slurs' row of the latest referendum campaign.
On the eve of the SNP's spring conference in Aberdeen, the city's leader Jenny Laing has written to the First Minister over allegations about the social media conduct of a rival candidate.
In her letter Ms Laing said John Cooke had accused the UK Home Office of being "no better than Nazis" in Facebook post related to moves to deport Canadian couple Jason and Christy Zielsdorf and their five children from their home in the Highlands.
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She also refers to comments made about 'Quislings' and calls on Ms Sturgeon to remove him from the list of candidates.
But the local SNP described Mr Cook as "well-mannered" adding his comments were poor taste jokes.
One leading expert on Scotland's politics told The Herald the emergence of a Nazi narrative just four days after the SNP announced plans for a second referendum pointed at "a very bitter few years", adding that social media was awash with supporters of both side of the constitutional debate making extremist claims of the other.
Claiming Mr Cooke's Twitter account features photographs of him with Ms Sturgeon, Ms Laing adds: "He then tweets from a political awards dinner in 2016 asking if there is a 'Quisling of the year' award.
"First Minister, I am sure you, like many of us, have or had close relatives who fought the Nazis. It is simply unacceptable to accuse anyone in this country of being a 'Quisling' and it is beyond the pale to liken any government to the Nazis.
"Sometimes in politics tough words are used but regardless of our political views I am sure we can both agree that it is unacceptable to associate the UK Home Office, or any politician who opposes breaking up the United Kingdom, with Nazis, especially when you consider they exterminated six million Jews.
"Given the inflammatory comments made by Mr Cooke on social media, I would hope that you would give serious consideration as to whether he should remain as a candidate in Aberdeen."
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But one prominent political authoriuty, who asked not to be named, said: "Little could the Nazis have known how they'd become an internet social media phenomena used by the bonkers sides of all internet debate, political or otherwise.
"I'm not sure there is much substantive to (take from this incident). But the next couple of years are going to get very bitter, as this campaign is truly 'end-game' winner takes all. There'll be no coming back for the side that loses this one. We're just at the warm up stage."
An SNP spokeswoman said: "John is a well mannered and extremely kind individual. His comments were a joke in poor taste and he would obviously apologise for any offence caused.
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"He does not believe that anyone is a quisling and rejects any form of political debate which involves such words, particularly given the fact that he himself was born in England."
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