ANDREW Neil asked a man to "speak proper English" in a rant over him using "pathetic cod Scots" on social media.
John Cadden commented on a post by Neil in which the former BBC journalist was claiming the SNP Scottish Government had been "lamentably slow in responding to the deterioration" of the A83 Rest and Be Thankful.
Cadden responded to Neil saying: "Mibee if yae actually stayed in Scotland an paid some tax, Andrew, you'd have reason tae moan, the road his been a heidache since it wis built, the geology is very unstable, climate change (grass an shrubs dying) all adds tae mair ground instability. French roads are aw fine, aye."
Neil has owned a home in Grasse in the south of France for many years.
In response to Cadden, Neil asked him not to "bother" him again until he learnt "proper English".
"Do you have any idea how stupid this pathetic cod Scots makes you look/sound? Don’t bother me again until you learn to express yourself in proper English," Neil posted.
The rant came off the back of Neil engaging in a back and forth with Scottish Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn over the state of the Rest and Be Thankful road.
Do you have any idea how stupid this pathetic cod Scots makes you look/sound? Don’t bother me again until you learn to express yourself in proper English. https://t.co/gfqfziOCYk
— Andrew Neil (@afneil) August 12, 2026
The road, which is the main link between much of Argyll and the Central Belt, has become a tourist hotspot over the years and has been susceptible to regular landslides during periods of heavy rain, leading to closures.
Transport Scotland shared earlier this week Flynn had visited the A83 to see what resilience improvements were being made.
Neil said the road had been allowed to "deteriorate into a sad state" by the SNP claiming the post from Transport Scotland was to do with "promoting S Flynn and his leadership ambitions".
Flynn then hit back at Neil sharing a video saying: "It’s important that locals, businesses and commuters alike know that we are giving improvements to the A83 the attention it rightly deserves.
"The Glen was looking spectacular. Not sure when you last got up so here’s a video for you."
Neil then claimed the SNP had been "lamentably slow" in responding to deterioration adding: "I've travelled that road regularly since I was a kid (holidays in Campbeltown) so I suspect I know it rather better than you. Good luck with the leadership bid. We need a bit of entertainment in these dismal times."
In June 2023, Transport Scotland unveiled plans to build a mile-long tunnel to protect vehicles from landslips on the A83 but construction is yet to begin.
