A gaffe prone SNP MSP is to face a challenge to be a party candidate for the next Holyrood election.
John Mason, whose off message comments have embarrassed senior SNP figures, will go up against councillor Katy Loudon for the Glasgow Shettleston nomination.
Mason is a party veteran who has served the SNP as a councillor, MP and as the Shettleston MSP for nine years.
However, his controversial comments have attracted negative publicity for his party.
In 2017, Nicola Sturgeon apologised to the families of three IRA murder victims after Mason claimed that some people saw members of the terror group as “freedom fighters”. He said he was “extremely sorry” after sending the tweet.
He also earned a rebuke from Health Secretary Jeane Freeman in March after writing that he would be keeping his office open, as well as carrying out surgeries.
Freeman, who at that point was urging the public to limit their contact with others due to coronavirus, responded:
“John please don’t do this. Follow the clear health guidance – you are neither an exception nor exceptional.”
In a recent debate on the Scottish Government’s Hate Crime Bill, Mason was accused of making a “bizarre” comment after saying:
"The Bill specifically protects freedom of expression, so [Green MSP] Patrick Harvie and I can continue to debate who should or should not have sex with whom.
"We can discuss and criticise each other's ideas even though we strongly disagree with each other. That is a sign of a healthy society and a healthy democracy."
Loudon, a councillor in South Lanarkshire, tweeted that she is going for the candidacy in Shettleston.
She wrote: "After careful consideration and encouragement from fellow members, I’m delighted to announce I’ve notified the National Secretary, and the Convenor of @Shettleston_SNP of my intention to seek selection as the Glasgow Shettleston candidate for May 2021.
“Having taught across the city, and from being a @theSNP Councillor, I know only too well the challenges that people can face. I firmly believe independence is the only way to properly tackle inequality, and build the country we want to see – one based on equity and fairness.”
Mason confirmed to the Record he would be seeking the nomination again.
