BORDERS MSP Rachael Hamilton is calling for First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to condemn protestors who demonstrated outside the Conservative Party leadership hustings event in Perth on Tuesday night.
Ms Hamilton said that she and her teenage daughter were verbally abused as they entered the building.
Other conservative supporters claimed to have been spat on and had eggs thrown at them.
The MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire said: “The demonstration at the leadership hustings in Perth by nationalists was an ugly spectacle.
"Rather than a peaceful demonstration, verbal abuse was hurled at me, my daughter and a BBC journalist, whilst Scottish conservative members were spat on, grabbed and had eggs thrown at them.
"The whole experience was unedifying and was no advert for a civic and joyous independence referendum debate in Scotland.
"Nicola Sturgeon should condemn this abuse and call out the actions of the more extreme wing of the independence movement
"We’ve seen this type of behaviour before in the Scottish Borders, especially during the pandemic when nationalists stood on the A1 with a banner telling the English to go home’.
"Anglophobia, xenophobia and hurtful insults should not feature when practicing freedom of speech. All political parties, their elected members and activists have a right to respectful discourse from their opponents."
^Protesters gathered in Perth. PLEASE NOTE, THERE IS NOTHING TO SUGGEST ANYONE PICTURED IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALLEGED ABUSE. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA Wire
The First Minister later described abuse of BBC journalist James Cook as “disgraceful”.
Protesters yelled at Cook, the BBC’s Scotland editor, with calls of “traitor”, “scumbag rat” and “liar” heard.
“Hurling abuse at journalists is never acceptable,” the First Minister tweeted.
“Their job is vital to our democracy and it is important to report and scrutinise, not support any viewpoint.
“James Cook is a journalist of the highest quality and a total pro – the behaviour he was subjected to last night was disgraceful.”
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross tweeted: “Nobody should be subjected to the abuse that happened outside @ScotTories hustings last night.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a BBC reporter or a party member – you shouldn’t have to put up with nasty insults and threats. The disgusting conduct of nationalist supporters must stop.”
Scottish Conservative Party chairman Craig Hoy described the abuse as “completely unacceptable”.
Chief Superintendent Phil Davison said there an “appropriate policing plan was in place to maintain public safety and minimise disruption”.
“Police Scotland is a rights-based organisation that puts our values of integrity, fairness, respect and a commitment to upholding human rights at the heart of everything we do,” Mr Davidson said.
“We have a duty under the European Convention on Human Rights to protect the rights of people who wish to peacefully protest or counter protest balanced against the rights of the wider community.”
No arrests were made, the force said.
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