SNP MSP James Dornan apologises for ‘fag’ tweet about gay Tory MP

James Dornan, the Scottish National Party (SNP) MSP, has apologised for what he describes as a misunderstanding of a tweet.

Dornan, who has served as MP for the Glasgow Cathcart constituency since 2011, faced criticism from social media users after he described gay Tory Ross Thomson as MP Boris Johnson’s ‘fag’ in a tweet.

The tweet, posted on Saturday (May 25, was posted in a discussion about Johnson potentially becoming the next Tory leader and Prime Minister.

In response to someone talking about what would happen if Johnson was PM, Dornan tweeted: “He’ll be too busy quaffing champagne and telling his new fag, my money is on Ross Thomson for that position, to keep still whilst he uses his back as a table. Honestly I don’t think he cares about Scotland at all.”

Dornan said he had used the word context of “public school boys being made to ‘fag’ for older pupils”. (@glasgowcathcart/Twitter)

However, Dornan has since apologised for the tweet and explained that he was using the word for its alternative meaning to describe a younger pupil who carries out chores for an older pupil at boarding school.

Those to respond to Dornan’s original post included Katie Frank, who is the Head of Office to Thomson.

Frank tweeted: “Using homophobic comments is not okay. Politicians in the LGBT community get enough abuse as it is.

“Saying you have gay friends and family does not excuse using this language. The SNP must condemn this behaviour now. No excuses.”

Others on social media asked for clarification on what he meant, with one person saying: “Hi James, as a ‘fag’ who voted for you in 2016 would you care to explain what the hell this tweet is about?”

James Dornan: ” I’ve too many family and friends who are gay to even consider such derogatory use of any word”