DUNFERMLINE and West Fife MP Douglas Chapman has been slammed for a "tasteless and insensitive" tweet over coronavirus death rates in Scotland and England.

Mr Chapman questioned whether Scotland's "vastly superior A&E performance" or its "unique coronavirus assessment centres" were the reason for the country's lower death rate.

His tweet, posted last Wednesday morning, sparked anger online and calls were made for him to apologise and delete the post.

At the time of writing, the post is still live and no apology has been made.

Mr Chapman wrote: "Recorded deaths from #COVID in England are double the rate of what they are in Scotland. It’s reasonable to ask WHY?

"Is it NHS Scotland’s vastly superior A&E performance OR is it Scotland’s 50 unique coronavirus assessment centres keeping infected patients away from GP surgeries?"

The Press contacted Mr Chapman's office but the MP declined our invitation to comment on the tweet and the responses it received.

The SNP were also asked to comment but failed to respond before the Press went to print.

More than 2,000 replies were left on the Twitter post with the majority either criticising or challenging the statement.

Former Dunfermline and West Fife MP and current Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has called for him to withdraw the remarks.

He said: "Douglas Chapman's dubious analysis of COVID-19 death rates is tasteless.

"It is certainly not in the spirit of partnership with the rest of the UK that the First Minister has adopted.

"I am sure she will be embarrassed and uneasy that one of her members of parliament has acted in this way.

"The families who have lost loved ones and the healthcare workers risking their lives every day on the frontline want all our politicians to work together to help them through this crisis.

"Douglas Chapman should withdraw his remark and turn his attention to more worthy activities."

Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative health spokesman, also slammed Mr Chapman's remarks.

He said: "Mr Chapman should delete his pathetic, gloating tweet and apologise to all the families who have lost loved ones and our NHS professionals working flat-out during the coronavirus outbreak."

It is not the first time Douglas Chapman has faced criticism for his use of social media.

The Press reported in November 2018 that the MP published a post on Twitter criticised as "grossly insensitive" on the eve of Remembrance Day.

He had suggested that the 51st Highland Division were sacrificed deliberately by Winston Churchill during Second World War to persuade the French to stay in the war, holding it up as an example of Scots being treated badly by the British Establishment.

He later deleted the tweet and an SNP spokesperson said that he regretted "any offence it might have caused".

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