SNP and Liberal Democrats activists have clashed over who was responsible for covering over a health and safety at work sign with a general election campaign poster.
Fergus Mutch, who runs former First Minister Alex Salmond’s constituency office in Inverurie, mocked Liberal Democrat candidate Christine Jardine over the incident.
He posted a photography of the offending sign on social media with the headline “Justine sticking up posters over health and safety signs in Moray. LibDemFail,”
The name Justine is a reference to what Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg accidently called Ms Jardine, who is standing for election in the Gordon constituency against Mr Salmond, in an interview with the P&J in January.
The photograph was shared and liked 32 times with activists connected to both parties arguing whether Ms Jardine was a victim of a dirty tricks campaign.
One post read: “SNP up to no good again”.
SNP supporters insisted they were not responsible for the stunt, which was claimed to have happened near Rothiemay. But following her own inquiries Ms Jardine later announced the sign had been erected by one of her supporters who owns a property near Huntly, which is in the Gordon constituency.
She said: “Solved! Site owned by the guy who put up poster.
“It is an out of date H&S sign so not relevant.”
Mr Mutch replied: “Phew! A relief to everyone involved.Vote SNP, JusticeforJustine.”
A woman known only as Finona wrote: “It would be nice if you/your supporters apologised for the smears against SNP activists.”
Ms Jardine, who said she had not smeared anyone, described the stunt as “petty” and claimed she was not bothered about being called Justine.
She added that she did not think the incident would affect the way people voted on May 7 and would continue talking about the issues that really mattered like taxation and jobs.