UNION leaders and reform groups have condemned the axing of a post encouraging teenagers to vote in the referendum after the 'radical independence' views of a campaigner were publicly exposed.
Leaders of the Unite Union, the National Union of Students and the Electoral Reform Society have accused Glasgow City Council of pulling funding for its electoral registration youth engagement officer because of the political opinions of the post's holder.
Details of Liam O'Hare's comments on social media sites were published last week, including branding Tories "scum" and taking part in a demonstration against Ukip last year.
Mr O'Hare's Facebook page was reported to have included comments about the Union flag as "that blood-stained imperialist flag", as well as inappropriate language about David Cameron and the police.
Within hours, Glasgow City Council said it would no longer be using Mr O'Hare, nor continuing to use his organisation, London-based Bite the Ballot.
But in an open letter signed by Unite's Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty, NUS Scotland president Gordon Maloney and Willie Sullivan, director of the Electoral Reform Society Scotland, the council is accused of withdrawing from the scheme directly as a result of external pressure.
It adds: "With the Scottish independence referendum approaching, and particularly with 16 and 17-year-olds being eligible to vote for the first time, it is essential that young people are provided with the correct information on the voting procedure.
"The Youth Engagement Officer was set to visit every school in Glasgow over the coming months as well as engaging with universities, colleges and youth groups.
"The fact that funding has been pulled due to a political campaign by a tabloid newspaper is frankly unacceptable.
"In a democratic society, everyone has a right to hold personal political opinions and unless there is evidence that these have affected the integrity of their work then action should not be taken.
"This simply amounts to discrimination."
A city council spokeswoman said: "It is simply not appropriate for someone who is employed to engage with young people to say 'F*** the cops' on a publicly accessible forum and made after his appointment with Bite the Ballot.
"We would not accept this from our own employees and will not accept this from a consultant."
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