SCOTLAND’S First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has taken aim at Labour politician Andy Kerr for making an “anti-Catholic” jibe.

Mr Kerr, chair of Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee, was speaking at an event in Liverpool when he called on a female delegate to take part in a live TV debate.

During live coverage on the BBC’s Parliament channel, the communications union leader, from Ayrshire, can be heard saying: “Seeing as you are being persistent, I am going to take you.”

He then adds: “Did you cross yourself there? In that case, I might not.”

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Ms Sturgeon led the criticism on Twitter.

She wrote: “Andy Kerr’s comment was appalling. The Catholic community is an integral and valued part of Scottish life. Everyone who stands for a Scotland where bigotry and sectarianism have no place, and where we positively embrace diversity, must unite to condemn - regardless of party.”

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard was grilled about the comment on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland on Monday morning.

Asked if the remark was “bigoted,” Mr Leonard replied: “That might be one way of describing it.”

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He then added: “There is absolutely no room inside the Labour Party for that kind of remark, whether it’s meant as a form of humour or not.

“It’s completely unacceptable and Andy Kerr has unreservedly apologised for the remark he made.

“There should be no space for it inside the Labour Party and I condemn it.”

Former Scottish Parliament Presiding Officer, Tricia Marwick, called on Mr Leonard to take action.

She sent him a tweet which said: “Maybe it is about time you united people regardless of religion, creed or colour. The sectarian remarks today against Catholics by your Chair Andy Kerr in an open session of your Conference were disgraceful. What are you going to do about that?”

The BBC has since reported that Mr Kerr has apologised ”unreservedly,” adding: “I was trying to be lighthearted but what I said was ill-judged and wrong.”