AN SNP parliamentarian has revealed the violent abuse directed against him by pro-Union supporters.

James Dornan, the MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, said he has endured repeated physical threats as well as frequent attacks on social media because of he is a supporter of Scottish independence.

He said police officers had been called to his constituency office on at least two occasions after he had received threats. He has also had to live with threats of assassination.

“I’ve had police attend my surgery on at least two occasions because of threats, people come to my office to ‘punch ma fuckin head in’ and I’ve had death threats on phone. My office door has also been kicked in during the night,” he said.

READ MORE: James Dornan: Forget 'War on Cybernats' and focus on our grassroots

Dornan, the convener of Holyrood’s Education Committee, gave The National details of the abuse made towards him over the internet.

One pro-Union supporter told him: “Deluded. Just another dirty little nationalist rat, deserves one behind the ear.”

A second pro-Union supporter said: “James is what’s known as a legitimate target.”

A third stated: “Your type is not wanted and we are going to make sure we leave a mark on your party and the Scottish Parliament. We come from a group called the BVP and we don’t like leftwing rats like yourself so I would retyre [retire] from the SNP.”

Dornan made the revelations days after three of his party’s parliamentarians criticised online comments made by so-called cybernats.

Former party deputy leader Angus Robertson, MEP Alyn Smith and Westminster frontbencher Stewart McDonald took issue with independence supporters who used insults and aggressive language on social media platforms.

McDonald called on them to stop spreading “poison and cynicism” as it damaged the Yes movement and suggested they “just chill out a bit”.

Robertson and Smith hit out at “anonymous keyboard warriors” and urged others within the Yes movement to condemn those guilty of online abuse.

Speaking to the Herald on Sunday, McDonald revealed he had been subjected to abuse online, with both sides of the constitutional debate continuing to use social media to target people.

He said: "I don’t understand these folk who insist on spreading poison and cynicism. What is it they think they’re doing to help advance the case of Scottish independence? No-one serious engages with them, they aren’t changing minds, they aren’t persuading people, they just seem to swirl around echoing each other.”

However, the politicians’ intervention prompted anger among some Yes supporters who believed their criticism overshadowed coverage of a pro-independence march through Glasgow the previous day.