THE Labour MP accused of kicking an independence campaigner “smirked” after the attack, a court heard yesterday.

St Helens South and Whiston MP Marie Rimmer, on trial at the Glasgow Sheriff Court, denied assaulting Yes campaigner Patricia McLeish on the day of the referendum.

In her evidence McLeish said she thought the politician was mentally ill and asked Police Scotland not to press charges.

She told the court: “The accused came in to my face twice, very very close up to my face, invaded my personal space I would say.”

McLeish continued: “She just approached me face on after I gave somebody a leaflet but didn’t say anything, which I found strange.”

McLeish, who works for Unite, said it then happened again around ten minutes later.

She told the prosecutor: “I thought it was odd, I thought it was quite intimidating behaviour for somebody to do, you don’t expect that at a polling station, you don’t expect that anywhere, in fact, you don’t expect that from an adult. Second time she done it again I was getting concerned I thought what’s she trying to do here.”

When Rimmer, elected to Parliament last year, told McLeish she was the leader of St Helen’s Council, the Glasgweigan said she “just disbelieved” her.

She said: “Because the manner she reacted before I just thought this person is obviously delusional because the leader of a council wouldn’t act in that manner and I just tried to ignore her at that point.”

Rimmer and McLeish then disagreed about Liverpool councils in the 1980s. A short time later when she gave somebody a leaflet, McLeish says Rimmer “came in to her face again” and assaulted her.

She continued: “Never said anything again, just in to my face but this time she kicked me.

“It was definitely deliberate.”

The case at Glasgow Sheriff Court has been adjourned until July 12.