The spokesman for disgraced MSP Bill Walker has been heavily criticised for questioning why one of the politician's abused ex-wives did not leave him sooner.

PR man Iain Maciver has been blasted over his statement which says that Diana Walker is "enjoying the limelight" surrounding the court case.

Political leaders were quick to condemn the claims.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said they were a "disgusting coda to a shameful set of actions".

She added: "Bill Walker abused and intimidated three ex-wives and a step-daughter, using his size and strength to physically beat them.

"Since prosecution he has sought to deny his actions, blame the media and now, bizarrely, claim one of his victims is a self-publicist.

"No victim of abuse should be in any doubt: it is never the 'wrong time' to leave your abuser, as this statement seems to claim. You will not be judged and there is support out there."

Scottish Labour MSP Claire Baker said: "This statement raises even more questions about Bill Walker, but also why this sort of individual was ever deemed fit for public office by the SNP."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: "Regardless of whether these comments came from his official spokesman or from Bill Walker himself, they are utterly shameful and should be withdrawn."

Walker, 71, of Alloa in Clackmannanshire, was convicted of 23 domestic abuse charges at the end of a trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last month.

He carried out the attacks against his three ex-wives and a stepdaughter between 1967 and 1995.

The former SNP MSP, who was ejected from the party when the allegations surfaced, denied the charges. He is due to be sentenced later this month.

He offered his resignation as MSP for Dunfermline on Saturday.

The statement from his spokesman Iain Maciver headed "what Diana Walker always forgets to mention" has now been widely circulated.

It reads: "A cursory look through the papers relating to her life with Mr Walker show that all was not quite as she now claims.

"For instance, as was stated in court but of course hardly reported, she did not divorce Bill Walker. "Although they had separated, she did not want to divorce him and, in fact, Mr Walker had to divorce her on grounds which she did not deny. If she had been subject to as much abuse as she now claims, why did she not divorce him in the 1990s?

"These are matters of fact, which were said in open court, yet do not seem to feature in the script the former actress is currently working from."

The statement concludes: "Although I have asked Bill Walker to comment on this, he insists he will not."

Walker issued a statement at the weekend confirming that Mr Maciver is "authorised to act as my media spokesman".