A council election candidate who made dozens of offensive remarks about Jews, Muslims, immigrants, women and homosexuals, has resigned from the Scottish National Party.

Lyall Duff repeatedly posted comments online attacking people from all backgrounds and religions, and on topics including football, guns, terror attacks, disabilities and illegal car repairs.

He had been due to stand as an SNP candidate for election to North Lanarkshire Council in next month's election. Before his resignation, the party had launched a disciplinary investigation and suspended him, but ballot papers have already been printed, meaning Mr Duff will still appear as an SNP candidate when voters enter polling stations.

Among his online rants, most posted using an alias, Mr Duff wrote: "Kick every Jew out and send them back to Israel without tanks, f*** them too, give them back what's theirs, f*** all."

Mr Duff, who runs a garage in Motherwell, also wrote about "Yids versus Ragheads and Gaza", and added: "Yid ladies were always fit although the yid men wore them silly wee 'hats' that made them look almost raghead."

“Yid men wore them silly wee hats that made them look almost raghead”

He claimed Israel had used the 9/11 attacks as "cover to invade and steal more land".

Mr Duff also threatened to inflict a "lifelong disability" on the stepfather of his grandchild, said Edinburgh should be "fenced off then burnt", and claimed gay people in Glasgow "ain't daft enough to come oot the cupboard".

An SNP spokesman had said the remarks were "totally unacceptable".

On his blog, Mr Duff said he was sorry for "any embarrassment or discomfort caused by my inflammatory language and expletives used. I do realise why the SNP suspended my membership and support them in that decision and look forward to my enquiry. I will stand by their judgment."

Jim Murphy, Labour MP for East Renfrewshire, was among those who had called on the SNP to sack Mr Duff.

Mr Murphy said: "I'm glad this man has stood down because his views are horrible.

"I want to know how he became so senior in the SNP and how he was able to become a candidate."