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Tories rage at socialist MSP's anti-royal comments

SCOTTISH Conservatives have made a series of attacks on a socialist MSP who has advocated the abolition of the monarchy.

Labour’s Mercedes Villalba, who represents North-East Scotland at Holyrood, was targeted by the Tories after she criticised royals on social media last week. 

The Dundee-based politician was responding to the revelation that the Queen’s lawyers had secretly lobbied Scottish ministers for an exemption from a climate law. 

They were reported to have asked that a major initiative to cut carbon emissions would not apply to royal-owned land. 

Writing on Twitter, Ms Villalba said: “It's time we recognised the political role of the monarchy, which serves its own self-interest at the cost of ordinary people and now planet. 

“Why not simply abolish the monarchy and all their arcane nonsense?”

This angered royalist rightwingers, who called for Ms Villalba’s party to “distance themselves” from her radical ideas, claiming that the triumph of republicanism would “break up the fabric of our country.”

Tory MSP Donald Cameron said: “This statement shows how far Labour have moved away from the patriotic pro-UK stance they once held.

“Calling for the abolition of the monarchy is a more extreme position than even Nicola Sturgeon is willing to take.”

After attack lines were sent to journalists across Scotland, the socialist MSP stuck to her guns and went further. 

Writing on Sunday night, Ms Villalba said that not only does she want to abolish the monarchy but she would also like to see an end to hunger, homelessness, fuel poverty and household debt. 

She added: “These things destroy lives, limit potential and choke the economy. Let’s abolish the lot and build a socialist republic.”

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