AN SNP member has been suspended from the party after directing sexually explicit homophobic abuse at Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson on Twitter.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon condemned the abuse during First Minister's Questions at Holyrood and confirmed the individual had been identified and suspended from membership.

He faces possible expulsion following a disciplinary hearing.

The foul-mouthed tirade was posted on the Twitter profile "Laird O'Callaghan," under the username @SparkyBhoyHH.

Speaking at Holyrood, Ms Sturgeon said she wanted to take the opportunity to "condemn unreservedly the vile homophobic abuse that was being directed at Ruth Davidson on Twitter last night and this morning".

She told MSPs: "The individual in question in that case has been identified and this morning suspended from membership of the SNP pending full disciplinary processes."

Campaigners and politicians on all sides united to condemn the abuse, which was too explicit to report in full.

SNP international development minister Humza Yousaf said: "Utterly disgraceful. Will investigate if member. Personally will push for expulsion. Zero-tolerance homophobia."

Colin Macfarlane, director of equality charity Stonewall Scotland, said: "We welcome the First Minister's strong condemnation of the homophobic abuse aimed at Ruth Davidson MSP online and the SNP's decision to suspend the party member pending an investigation.

"The vile and offensive language aimed at Ms Davidson is unacceptable."

When "O'Callaghan" was identified and pictured by fellow Twitter users, he responded: "Boohoo, support the woman that hates Scotland and supported no. She is a gobby Tory. She is well off, she hates working class, she loves Cameron."

But as condemnation grew, he telephoned Ms Davidson's office to apologise, the Scots Tory leader revealed.

In a statement, she said: "

"A significant proportion of the abuse I receive is homophobic, and I make a point of calling out a selection of such tweets every few weeks.

"It's important for me that young LGBT people can see that such abuse doesn't have to be borne.

"It's not OK. People don't have to just sit there and take it. You are allowed to challenge it.

"It is heartening to me that so many people online agree that challenging someone's politics is healthy but abusing them for their race, colour, gender, sexuality or other area of themselves is simply unacceptable."

Ms Sturgeon also told MSPs that David Coburn, the Ukip MEP who likened Mr Yousaf to the convicted terrorist Abu Hamza, was not fit to be an elected representative.

She said his remarks were "utterly reprehensible".

"My clear view is that he is simply not fit to represent the people of Scotland in the European Parliament or anywhere else," she said.

Ukip leader Nigel Farage said Mr Coburn, who was elected as an MEP last May and is standing in Falkirk in the General Election, had been ''telling a joke in poor taste''.

Mr Farage added he was not ''terribly exercised'' about the row and acknowledged ''people do make mistakes''.