SCOTTISH Finance Secretary Derek MacKay accused English-born Richard Leonard of lacking respect for Scotland today.

The Scottish Labour leader has attracted abuse from online trolls for his roots south of the border, though SNP politicians have steered clear of this line of criticism. But Mr MacKay’s remarks are likely to be received by some as a subtle dig at Mr Leonard’s Englishness.

The finance minister said of his political opponents: “Despite my political differences I respect them all. The question is, does Richard Leonard have any respect [from] his colleagues? Or, even more importantly, does he have any respect for Scotland?”