An SNP MSP has been slammed after being caught posing with an ultra-nationalist flag during an independence rally.
Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, was snapped holding an Siol nan Gaidheal flag while she attended an All Under One Banner march in her constituency on Saturday.
Following the event, Tweed posted a picture of her at the event saying: "Delighted to attend the Battle of Bannockburn commemoration . . . a moving commemoration for those who fought and lost their lives on both sides."
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After receiving backlash over the ultra-nationalist flag she deleted the tweet and issued an apology on her social media account.
She tweeted: "Apologies for my last post now deleted when the flag was pointed out. Just to be clear, I do not support any form of ultra nationalism."
Siol nan Gaidheal is an anti-English organisation who describes themselves as “ultra-nationalist”. They are a splinter group who were expelled from the SNP in 1982.
The SNP said the MSP held the flag due to the wind.
A spokesperson said: "Just before the photo was about to be taken a man with a flag jumped into the front of the picture.
"Because of the wind, the flag kept flapping in front of Evelyn’s face so she held it to prevent it from doing so.
"There had been many flags there on the day so she thought nothing of it until later, when she realised what the flag was.
"She then immediately deleted the tweet/Facebook post and put out an apology."
Opposition MSPs hit out at Tweed over the flag, with one saying it was an "insult to thousands of your own constituents".
Tory MSP for Central Scotland Stephen Kerr tweeted: "Fairly shocked to see SNP MSP Evelyn Tweed holding the flag of an ethnic nationalist group.
"With yesterday's march, Stirling SNP have some serious questions to answer."
While, Mid Scotland and Fife Tory MSP Dean Lockhart said: "I cannot believe that you are holding a Siol nan Gaidheal flag Evelyn.
"A blood and soil anti-English nationalist organisation who believe in terrorising English born residents in Scotland. I’m actually shocked. An insult to thousands of your own constituents.
"This is what this disgusting ethno-nationalist organisation has to say about English residents. @NicolaSturgeon are you happy with one of your MSPs keeping this kind of company?"
Highlands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston added: "An SNP MSP happy to stand alongside - and brandish the flag of - a well-known blood and soil anti-English nationalist group. Utterly appalling."
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