Miscarriage tweets 'hurtful' Nicola Sturgeon tells Forth News

Jan Lax has been suspended by the Scottish Tories

Published 23rd Aug 2019

Nicola Sturgeon has told Forth News she welcomes the suspension of a Scottish Conservative activist who made "hurtful'' remarks about her on social media.

Jane Lax, treasurer of the Moray Conservative Association, was suspended by the party pending a disciplinary procedure after making reference to the First Minister's miscarriage in disparaging comments on Twitter.

A spokesman for the Tories described Ms Lax's comments as "completely unacceptable''.

"These kind of comments also stir up hurtful and painful feelings in others as well" - Nicola Sturgeon

Speaking to our Political Correpondent, Alan Smith, the First Minister said it is "absolutely right'' that Ms Lax has been suspended.

She added: "I mean, obviously these comments are hurtful and not just hurtful to me and to people close to me, I've been contacted by women who've also suffered miscarriages and these kind of comments also stir up hurtful and painful feelings in others as well.

"So yes, I welcome the fact she's been suspended, I don't particularly want to talk too much about what she said because I don't want to dignify it with a response.

"I would say more generally though that for anybody who finds their political disagreements with somebody leading them to make such offensive comments really has to take a long, hard look at themselves and really think about what kind of person they are, and hopefully she will learn from this."

Hear all the latest news from across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk on Forth 1. Listen on FM, via the Rayo app, on DAB or on your smart speaker.