A former Scottish Secretary has described a Labour attack on Douglas Ross’ political impotence as a “new low for politics”.
Lord Forsyth said an advert which claimed the Scots Tory leader could not “get it up” was “sickening”.
A Labour councillor also said it made his party look like “crass morons”.
As revealed by the Record, the new ad mocked Ross’ low poll ratings with a penis pun: “Douglas can’t get it up.”
A Scottish Labour spokesperson added: “Douglas Ross and the Tories are a party suffering from a severe case of electoral dysfunction.”
However, the advert has been panned by figures across the political aisle.
Forsyth, who was Scottish Secretary in John Major’s Government, said: "A new low for politics. Just sickening given the problems facing our country. Who with ability will go into politics if this is the currency of debate?”
Susan Dalgety, a former Scottish Labour spin doctor, tweeted: "It’s embarrassing. End of."
Martin Lennon, a Labour councillor in South Lanarkshire, responded: "This is disgustingly bad taste."
He added: "While a few losers might find this funny, erectile dysfunction is a disability.
“Using it as a punchline here makes our party look like crass morons.”
A recent Ipsos poll found Ross with poor public satisfaction levels compared to other leaders.
Scottish Labour chief Anas Sarwar had a net rating of plus seven while SNP leader Humza Yousaf was on minus nine.
Ross, who took over from Ruth Davidson, trailed badly on minus 25.
The same poll found the Scottish Tories in third place on 17 per cent, as did a larger snapshot by YouGov which also saw Labour easily leapfrogging the Conservatives.
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here .
