Call for Tories to kick out councillor 'behind troll account'

Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross has been urged to take action against a councillor reportedly revealed to be behind an anonymous anti-SNP troll account.

Derek Wann, a councillor for Arbroath East and Lunan, had repeatedly denied suggestions that he ran the ‘(Lady Whistledown) AngusFreeofSNP’ account, which was used to target local politicians.

However, it was reported by the Courier newspaper on Thursday that Wann had now admitted to being behind the account, after he was told the last two digits of its registered phone number matched his own.

Wann issued an apology for how he handled the matter and said that his actions were unacceptable, adding that he had provided the Scottish Conservatives with the relevant facts so they can conduct an investigation, the newspaper reported.

The SNP has now called on the party to kick out the councillor, calling his behaviour “atrocious”.

SNP MSP Rona Mackay said: “There is no place in politics for such obnoxious and sleekit behaviour.

“Derek Wann’s conduct is absolutely indefensible, particularly in mocking drugs deaths.

“This is a serious test of Mr Ross’ leadership – he must act without delay.

“There is no need for an investigation when the man at the centre of it all has already admitted his atrocious behaviour.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: “As we have already said, we are investigating this matter. That process is ongoing.

“Given that the SNP’s own internal investigations often take more than a year, if they ever conclude at all, they should get their own house in order first.

“By the standards the SNP are hypocritically claiming must be upheld, Nicola Sturgeon has repeatedly failed tests of leaderships over and over again, particularly when she failed to do anything whatsoever about the SNP membership of the disgraced ex-finance minister Derek Mackay.”