Eddi Reader and Lord Steel in Robert Burns spat

Scottish singer Eddi Reader. Picture: Contributed

The spat started when, during a debate in the House of Lords, Lord Steel accused Reader of “murdering” Burns songs.

The Glaswegian singer songwriter and former Fairground Attraction frontwoman hit back on a Nationalist website, describing Lord Steel of Aikwood as a “dis-honourable birkie” and accusing him of being a member of an “ignorant elite”.

Lord Steel’s comments were in support of a motion by Lord Lang of Monkton, on the implications of independence for Scotland.

He said: “Do we keep our participation in the British Broadcasting Corporation, or do we have our own SBC, no doubt as it would have been last week, feeding us a diet of Eddi Reader murdering Burns’ simple melodies?”

However, Reader posted a strongly-worded response online.

She wrote: “My name is Eddi Reader. I’m a singer musician. Like my great grandfather did, I sung and enjoyed Robert Burns songs.

“He also felt bad enough about the elite lording it over and treating unfairly, the ordinary citizen, to want to help.

“Tonight, I have learned that during the House Of Lords debate on Scottish independence, the ‘Honourable’ ‘Lord’ David Steele (a real grown-up experienced politician) chose to personally attack my take on Robert Burns songs.”

She added: “I just had to scrabble around to find the money to pay an enormous personal tax bill this month … Some of that goes into that guy’s pocket. He is my servant, a servant of the people.”