John Nicolson’s bizarre outburst will live forever in a hashtag (Picture: Twitter/@AndyMcH)

If you ask SNP MP John Nicolson about colleague Angus MacNeil’s sexuality, he’s likely to reply ‘he’s not gay’.

In fact, if you ask Mr Nicolson anything whatsoever about Mr MacNeil, he might just respond with the same answer.

Or at least that’s our assumption after a brilliantly awkward encounter on Victoria Derbyshire’s BBC Two show.

The political journalist begins asking Mr Nicolson a question about Mr MacNeil – but doesn’t get very far before she’s interrupted.


He flatly states ‘he’s not, he’s not gay’ – before learning that the question was in fact to do with Mr MacNeil’s expenses.



He appears to glance away with regret, perhaps instantly realising that Twitter would soon be abuzz with our new favourite hashtag.

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User Andy McHaffie posted a video of the bizarre conversation, finishing his post with #hesnotgay.

Before long, #hesnotgay was trending across the UK, specifically in Glasgow.

Everything about the video is classic, from Mr Nicolson unnecessarily jumping in with the assertion to other guests of the programme’s expressionless watching in the background.

But the MP defended himself on Twitter, telling one user: ‘Oh dear. It was a joke. He’s famously not gay.’

This is Angus MacNeil. He is not gay (Picture: Michael Stephens/PA Wire)

The encounter in full Victoria Derbyshire: ‘Quickly before we go, as an SNP MP, you’d expect me to ask you about your colleague Angus MacNeil…’ John Nicolson: ‘He’s not, he’s not gay.’ VD: ‘No, it’s not about that, it’s whether he has been using taxpayer-funded expenses for staying in a hotel in London.’