An SNP MSP has apologised for offending people affected by HIV after an “insensitive” tweet seemed to reference the disease.
A mocked-up picture saying: “I’M YES! POSITIVE” was branded “crass” after it was posted online by Christina McKelvie.
Ms McKelvie insisted it was a response to Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont’s conference speech this week.
Ms Lamont described nationalism as a “virus that has affected so many nations and done so much harm”, which seemed to allude to 20th Century fascism.
Ms McKelvie claimed nothing she said was intended to refer to any medical condition.
She said: “I would never make light of any health issue, and I of course apologise for any offence caused.
“I also believe that Ms Lamont should apologise for her original remarks.”
HIV Scotland chief executive George Valiotis said: “The words and jokes used by politicians, be they in speeches, tweets or passing comments, can set the tone for public discussion and perception.”
Robert McKay, national director for HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland, said: “HIV is still a difficult issue for many, so you can see why anything that appears to make light of it could be seen as crass.”
Scottish Conservative MSP Cameron Buchanan, a member of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “It was in extremely poor taste and will have been very upsetting for those people living with HIV to see.”
Rhoda Grant, Scottish Labour’s deputy health spokeswoman, said the “insensitive” message was always likely to cause offence.
She added: “She (Ms McKelvie) has done the right thing by apologising for the upset these comments have caused.
“She would do well to leave it there rather than try to pass blame on to others.”