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NATIONALIST extremists have demanded revenge against a 20-year-old politics student for lifting the lid on the controversial behaviour of SNP councillors.

Bitter cybernats sparked revulsion after starting an online campaign against freelance journalist Aidan Kerr.

The Glasgow University student revealed in yesterday’s Record that the four councillors suspended in December for burning the Smith Commission report on more powers have been handed senior leadership positions in the party’s Renfrewshire group.

But his scoop sparked a meltdown from hard-core independence supporters.

SNP member Nick Durie took to Facebook to brand Kerr - who campaigned for independence last year - a “defector” who should be “castigated, shut down and prevented from operating”.

In an astonishing rant, he said: “We were told by his friends that we should not point out the danger of the defector Aidan Kerr.

“This shows that those who argued this position have been taken for fools.

“We should not tolerate defectors to the forces of reaction. They are right wing scum bought for the bosses’ bawbees.

“Anyone with an once of honour would never make that journey. Never, ever trust or tolerate defectors to the forces of reaction.

“They are beyond the pale. They should be castigated, shut down and prevented from operating.

“Those who argued otherwise - this is your shame.

“Wear it, and remember the lesson. DO NOT tolerate right wing defectors.”

Scottish Labour last night said the diatribe was reminiscent of something from Stalinist Russia.

Durie is an SNP member who has been pictured campaigning for the party.

While other decent nationalists confronted Durie on social media over his vile rant, many others defended his comments.

One said: “Good on you, Nick.” Another added: “You are fighting the good fight.”

The unseemly incident is a further sign that Nicola Sturgeon is losing control of independence hardliners operating within her party.

A Labour spokesman said: “Calling for journalists to be ‘castigated, shut down and prevented from operating’ is something you’d expect to read in the history books about the days of Stalin, not 21st century Scotland.

“We would condemn this behaviour if it was happening in a foreign country so we should do so when it’s happening on our own doorstep.

“The SNP leadership must condemn this in the strongest possible terms. No ifs, no buts, no equivocating.

“This is just plain wrong and Nicola Sturgeon must say so.”

Aidan yesterday hit out at the cybernats who have singled him out for abuse.

He said: "The personal attacks launched against me yesterday for daring to report on a negative story surrounding the SNP were sadly unsurprising.

"When growing up I myself posted various things online that I cringe over today as a young adult.

"But these cretins are not teenagers - they are adults, some even with kids of their own.

"Unlike many of the internet warriors, I actually got off my computer chair and campaigned for independence in housing schemes across Coatbridge and Glasgow.

"I dodged pit bulls in the garden to deliver leaflets and spent countless hours trying to persuade friends, family and neighbours to vote Yes.

"It is for this reason that many of my former colleagues in the SNP came to me in confidence to make Daily Record readers aware of behaviour they find unacceptable.

"When you carry that SNP member’s card you carry with you decades of a movement built by many great men and women.

"I remember attending a SNP Youth meeting where the now First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told us we 'stand on the shoulders of giants' and if we didn’t know the names of those who had gone before us we should learn them.

"These cretins spreading posion on the internet would do well to take the First Minister’s advice.

"Within the SNP, many decent people fear the reputation of the party they love is being tarnished.

"Yet, they fear speaking up against wrong-doing as they will face the brunt of these online bampots.

"It is a climate of fear which must be brought to an end by my First Minister, Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon."

The SNP last night distanced themselves from the comments. A spokeswoman said: “As we have repeatedly made clear, denigration of people is simply not acceptable.

“Where any member falls short of that expectation, they will be reminded of the standards set out in our party rules.”

Meanwhile, the Record's scoop revealing how the SNP councillors who torched copies of the Smith Commission had landed plum party jobs was the talk of the House of Commons.

Labour’s Jim Sheridan asked Prime Minister David Cameron about the issue during the weekly question time.

He said: “You will be well aware of the hard work that went into the Smith Agreement and will be as disappointed as I am at the front page of the Daily Record today showing four SNP councillors burning that very agreement.

“Not only did they escape discipline, but one of them was actually promoted.

“Are these the actions of a party that seeks to increase its representation in this place?”

The Tory leader replied: “The Smith process and the Smith Agreement was about bringing together different political parties who often disagree with each other quite violently about issues but to come to the right answer for the future of Scotland and the future of devolution.

“It was an excellent report and we are all committed to putting it in place whoever is the Government after the next election.

“It is disappointing that the SNP, who only want to break up our country, won’t stick to the promises they made.”