All smiles - but later the First Minister 'went absolutely crazy'

FIRST Minister Alex Salmond has clashed with a Labour MP during a school visit about a recent row over gay marriage.

Dunfermline MP Thomas Docherty claimed the SNP leader went "absolutely crazy" after being called on to apologise for critical comments made by local Nationalist MSP Bill Walker about anti-homophobia campaigners.

Mr Walker is among three MSPs who backed a Holyrood motion by fellow Nationalist John Mason that states no person or organisation should be forced to be "involved in or to approve of" same-sex marriages. Mr Walker was also on the visit to Carnegie Primary School in the town yesterday to mark the return of pupils to school this week.

The Labour MP claimed he asked the pair to apologise for the remarks.

Mr Docherty said: "This is clearly a sensitive issue for the First Minister, but that's no excuse for behaviour like this in such an aggressive fashion.

"He went absolutely crazy and refused to apologise. He shouted, 'we're in a school', but we were in a room well away from the pupils and teachers.

"The First Minister was asking, 'How long have you been an MP son?' and his minder moved as if to step in between us."

Mr Walker revealed at the weekend that he has since been victim of online "abuse and intimidation" since signing the motion and claimed he was being bullied by gay marriage campaigners.

Mr Salmond yesterday criticised the Labour MP's approach and called him a political novice.

"I think he's only been an MP for a year or so, and he'll learn as time goes on that there's a time and a place for everything.

"You don't bring politics into a school. that's just daft," Mr Salmond said.