THE Scottish Tory candidate in an upcoming Holyrood by-election is a member of the Orange Order, it has emerged.
Richard Nelson, who will run in the upcoming Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, is also a former member of the Carluke No Surrender Apprentice Boys of Derry group, the Daily Record reports.
The councillor, who represents Larkhall on South Lanarkshire Council, lists the organisations of which he is a member.
He has been a member of the Netherton Covenanters Loyal Orange Lodge 233 since 2019.
Critics of the Orange Order say it is hostile to Catholics, pointing to marches which regularly parade through Catholic areas and Catholic chapels.
Nelson also used to be assistant secretary of the Scottish Amalgamated Committee of the Apprentice Boys of Derry and is currently listed as the secretary of the organisation. He is also down as being a member of the Sir William Johnston Memorial Royal Black Preceptory 634.
A Scottish Conservative spokesperson told the Record: “It’s a personal decision for our candidates to choose what groups they are a member of, as it is for candidates in other parties too.”
A Labour source told the paper: “The Conservatives should be embarrassed to select Richard Nelson [above] as their candidate.”
Nelson was previously revealed to be a hypnotist who swore at participants in his live show.
At one performance in Penicuik, Nelson hypnotised a group of men who began jumping around like kangaroos.
At this point, he unleashed a sweary tirade against the participants, saying: “What are yous daeing? What you daeing, you d**k? I’m in the middle of a show, here. A***holes. You and all.”
The Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election is being held on June 5 after the death of SNP minister Christina McKelvie. It is considered a two-horse race between the SNP and Labour and is being seen as a key test of Anas Sarwar’s chances of success in next year’s Holyrood elections.
