THE secretary of the Ardrossan branch of the SNP has this week quit the party following a row over a sexist slur against a Scottish Labour election candidate.

The Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald reported that Alan Deans left the party after posting a comment on a Facebook page mimicking a newspaper campaign advert placed by Cunninghame North Labour candidate Johanna Baxter.

His comment read "Yaldy, I am on page three... with my advert. Still keeping my clothes on as I don't want to scare the remaining Labour voters that believe my spell."

Ms Baxter has hit out at the comments calling it "sexist misogyny at the lowest level".

She said: "Over the past month I have been on the receiving end of what can only be described as a smear campaign by Cunninghame North SNP.

"Across social media and at street stalls SNP activists have been spreading untruths about me - I am, apparently, the daughter of a millionaire who has lived all of her life abroad and who's ankle is not actually broken. The fact that none of this is true hasn't stopped it being repeated to anyone who will listen.

"But the post SNP activist, Mr Deans, put on the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald Facebook page about me takes these personal attacks to another level. It is sexist misogyny of the lowest level, designed to embarrass, silence and detract from the real issues in this election."

The comments were flagged up on Twitter where members of Labour, the SNP and Green Parties all criticised Mr Deans with various calls on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to take action. Mr Deans has declined to comment.