ONLINE 'cybernat' trolls who attacked journalist Nick Robinson after it emerged that he had a tumour on his lung have been condemned as "sick".
The BBC political editor, who revealed at the weekend that he is to go under the knife to have the bronchial carcinoid tumour removed, received a series of get well soon messages on Twitter, including from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
However, a vocal minority, some of whom identified themselves as supporters of Scottish Independence, directed abuse at Mr Robertson, who was accused of bias during the referendum campaign following a heated exchange with then-First Minister Alex Salmond at a press conference. In the run-up to the referendum vote, campaigners held protests outside BBC offices in Glasgow and called for him to be sacked.
One Twitter user who identified himself as an SNP member sent a message that read 'karma' to Mr Robertson and the BBC. Another, whose name included '45' in an apparent reference to independence, wrote: "A bit of chemotherapy would do the biased beeb man good."
A Scottish Labour spokesman said: "These tweets are beneath contempt. There is no place in Scottish life for this kind of bile."
Lord McConnell, the former Labour First Minister, responded online saying he was disgusted by the "sick comments". A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: "These comments are despicable, but won't surprise anyone who saw the depths some people stooped to during the referendum campaign.
Mr Robinson, 51, is aiming to be back working prior to May's general election. The broadcaster, who has a wife and three children, thanked people on Twitter for their "many kind and generous messages".
An SNP spokesman said: "We deplore all internet abuse, as we have made consistently clear, and the First Minister has wished Nick Robinson well for a speedy recovery."
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