Nicola Sturgeon was "right" to claim that she detested everything the Conservative party stands for, Scotland's top trade union official has declared.
Roz Foyer, the STUC general secretary, told a fringe meeting at the SNP conference in Aberdeen claimed the Tories had declared a "class war" on ordinary working people.
It comes as Sturgeon faces criticism from her political opponents for her choice of language during a set-piece BBC interview yesterday.
Speaking to Laura Kuennsberg, the SNP leader said: "If the question to me is would I prefer a Labour government over a Tory government – I detest the Tories and everything they stand for – so it’s not difficult to answer that question.”
Responding on the same programme, Tory minister Nadhim Zahawi said: "I think that language is really dangerous."
Sturgeon refused to apologise for her remarks when questioned by reporters yesterday - but clarified she was criticising the party's policies rather than individual members.
And the First Minister was today given strong backing from union leader Foyer.
She told an audience of delegates in Aberdeen: "I would like to give my absolute, fullest support to the First Minister's comments about detesting the Tories' policies.
"She was right to detest all that they stand for. She's right to detest their policies - because this is an organisation and a government that has declared class war on ordinary working people - and not the other way around.
"We have to do everything we can to stand up to that and to resit that."
Foyer also praised the Scottish Government for reaching a pay deal with council workers which saw a total of £600 million being divided between local government staff.
But she called for SNP ministers to now offer improved terms to other public sector employees.
"That shows union power - but it also shows a government prepared to sit down and talk to us," she added.
"But now I would ask them to do the right for health workers, do the right thing for teachers, and for workers across the whole public sector in Scotland.
"Because yes, times are difficult, and yes it's difficult to find the money, but it is the right thing to do.
"Workers should not have to take strike action to get a decent cost of living pay rise from this government."
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