An SNP councillor has hit out after she was quizzed on who would look after her children if she was elected to Holyrood.
Julie McKenzie, who is trying to become her party’s candidate for Argyll and Bute, responded by asking the unnamed individual if they had ever posed the same question to a male candidate.
Dozens of selection contests will determine who stands for the SNP across the country at the Holyrood election.
One of the battles is in Argyll and Bute, which was won by Cabinet Secretary Michael Russell in 2016 with a majority of 5,978. Russell is retiring next year.
Five women - McKenzie, Sarah Fanet, Jenni Minto, Breege Smyth and Rhiannon Spear - are in the running to become the candidate.
McKenzie, the councillor for the Oban North and Lorn ward, last night tweeted about contact she'd had with a party member:
“Question received from an Argyll & Bute SNP member today.
“Julie I think you would be a great MSP, however I have to ask, if you get elected who will look after your kids?”
She continued: “My response ....Thank you for your email. However I have to ask, have you ever asked a male political candidate that question?!”
The sexist question asked of McKenzie was attacked by colleagues and political opponents.
SNP MP Alison Thewliss responded: "I got that in 2015 - I gave the same response."
Clare Haughey, the Mental Health Minister in the Scottish Government, wrote: “A question I’d bet is never asked of a father.”
Fiona Robertson, the SNP’s equalities convener, tweeted: “Please, for the love of god, stop with these questions.
“You don't ever ask men who'll take care of their kids when they're elected.
“People don't make this decision lightly. You can expect that a parent has had these discussions.”
Alison Evison, a Labour councillor in Aberdeenshire, wrote: “Not on. In any political party. Not on in other work contexts for that matter.”
