JK Rowling has become embroiled in a 'freedom of speech' spat with Pete Wishart MP on Twitter after the SNP MP criticised a journalist’s tweet.

The Harry Potter author asked Mr Wishart 'if trying to intimidate journalists he disliked was SNP policy or a personal vendetta?' after the MP for Perth and North Perthshire tweeted STV about the views of journalist Stephen Daisley.

In his tweet, Mr Daisley, a digital editor at STV, wrote: “In England, people tweet journalists demanding they hold government to account. In Scotland, people tweet journalists demanding they don’t.”

Mr Wishart replied:  “Is this your view or just the view of the ‘digital arm’ of the STV family?”

The Harry Potter author responded: “Is trying to intimidate journalists you dislike @theSNP policy or just a vendetta of your own?”

Ms Rowling also asked the MP if he thought there should be an 'agreed line on matters relating to criticism of the Scottish Government?'.

However, Mr Wishart told Ms Rowling that he just wanted to know if Mr Daisley's tweet represented STV's 'corporate view'.

The SNP MP said he almost felt honoured to be ‘reprimanded’ by Ms Rowling on Twitter.

It is not the first time that Ms Rowling has been involved in a spat with the SNP on Twitter.

The Harry Potter author threatened to sue Natalie McGarry MP, who no longer had the party whip, over a tweet in January.