A Holyrood hopeful has vowed he will not be silenced after vandals sprayed swastika signs on Conservative election signs in Deeside.
Alexander Burnett, who is hoping to retain his Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine seat next week, described it as “loathsome vitriol”
Mr Burnett shared a video of the vandalism carried out on the “Scottish Conservative to stop Indyref2” banners.
Police have also been informed following the damage to the signs on private land near the Tesco supermarket in Banchory. It is believed the incident took place yesterday.
Vandalism has no place in Scotland and I have reported this loathsome act to the police.
I haven’t let bullies silence my campaign and I won’t start doing so now. Scotland deserves better than this. pic.twitter.com/DgORBvlDVk
— Alex Burnett MSP (@AJABurnett) April 29, 2021
It is understood local officers are linking it to earlier slogans seen on a sign in Aboyne, and two thefts of large boards from the vicinity.
Mr Burnett said: “Loathsome vitriol of this kind doesn’t represent the Banchory I’ve loved all my life, or the constituency where I’ve been the MSP this past five years.
“I haven’t let bullies silence my campaign and I won’t start doing so now.
“But I do fear the impact that messages like this send to local people.
“It has a chilling effect on democracy and freedom of expression.”
He added: “It certainly should have no place in Scotland.”
A police spokeswoman said: “Officers in Banchory received a report of vandalism to a sign on the A93 at its junction with Hill of Banchory which happened sometime overnight between 8pm on Wednesday, 28 April and 8.40am on Thursday, 29 April. Enquiries are ongoing.”
Anyone with any information or who may have been in the area and saw anything suspicious is asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident number 1418 of 29 April.
In the 2016 Scottish Parliament election Mr Burnett stood as the Conservative Party candidate for the Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine constituency and won with 38.1% of the vote
He managed to unseat the incumbent candidate SNP candidate Dennis Robertson who only received 35.5%.
Mr Burnett has been re-selected for next Thursday’s election. The other candidates for the seat are: Fergus Mutch (SNP), Rosemary Bruce (Lib Dems) and Andrew Philip Brown (Labour).