SCOTS comic Susan Calman, who suffered online abuse after joking about the independence referendum, has received backing from an SNP minister.
Sports Minister Shona Robison tweeted a message of support after the comedian called for an end to "name calling, swearing and death threats" in the debate.
Ms Calman was targeted after poking fun at Alex Salmond, George Osborne and Danny Alexander in BBC Radio 4's News Quiz.
She wrote in a blog: "I'm not going to pretend I'm not disappointed that people are being horrific towards me. Of course I am.
"But I'm also pretty convinced it means I'm doing the right thing."
Some of the criticism highlighted the fact she is the daughter of Sir Kenneth Calman, who headed a commission on extending devolution on behalf of the pro-UK parties.
In her message of support on Twitter, Ms Robison said: "Scottish political satire is a good thing for all of us on all sides of the political divide & plenty material!"
Scottish Labour's culture spokeswoman Patricia Ferguson added: "It is not healthy for Scottish politics that this hostile environment is allowed to exist."
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