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An SNP councillor has been accused of embarrassing his own party and new First Minister Nicola Sturgeon after issuing online comments that a “homophobe” had been promoted to Ms Sturgeon’s first cabinet.

The First Minister announced her top ministerial team on Friday with a 50-50 split between male and female members.

The move has prompted widespread approval across the political divide, but Dundee councillor Gregor Murray, who has previously spoken out about the equal gender issue in controversial circumstances, went on Twitter to complain about the make-up of the new Scottish Cabinet.

Mr Murray tweeted: “Cabinet 10% homophobic and 0% LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans-gender/Transexual and Intersexed). These quotas really *do* help minority groups!”

Another tweet said: “I see people are falling over themselves to celebrate the @scotgov on achieving a 50/50 gender split by promoting a homophobe to the cabinet…”

Dundee Labour councillor Lesley Brennan said: “It is deeply disappointing that Councillor Murray disapproves of the First Minister’s decision.

“In his tweets he demonstrates his ignorance of the issues and makes a scurrilous claim about how the outcome was achieved.

I see people falling over themselves to celebrate the @scotgov on achieving a 50/50 gender split by promoting a homophobe to the cabinet… — Gregor Fisher Murray (@grogipher) November 21, 2014

“It must be deeply embarrassing for the First Minister and Councillor Murray’s former employer, the newly-appointed health secretary Ms Robison MSP.

“I hope at the very least Councillor Murray apologises for these comments, and perhaps he ought to undergo some equality training.”

Mr Murray later added: “Forgive me for wanting to ensure the best PERSON is in the job, regardless of gender. We’re talking about our Government, not some quango.”

It’s not clear who Mr Murray’s comments were aimed at, but his own party responded by condemning his “name-calling”.

A spokesman said: “Every member of the cabinet fully supports party policy on gender equality and other policies.

“The SNP has gained nearly 70,000 new members and obviously everyone does not entirely agree on every issue but this does not justify name-calling.”

Formerly a researcher for Shona Robison, Mr Murray previously sparked a row over her determination to achieve gender equality.

He failed to respond to Courier requests for comment.