A newly-elected Green MSP has come under fire for social media posts which appeared to look forward to the late Queen Elizabeth II “kicking the bucket”.Bradford-born Iris Duane – a biological male who identifies as a woman – was elected as a member of the Scottish Parliament for the Glasgow region on Friday. However, shortly after the Scottish Greens candidate was elected, a controversial social media post from January 2022 was unearthed. It read: “I cannot wait till big lizard Lizzie kicks the bucket, not because she’s dead but because of the absolute meltdown it will cause the British consciousness.”The Scottish Greens have rushed to their new MSP’s defence, insisting the post was “intended as a joke”. A party spokesman said “it was made years ago and ahead of the Queen’s death” and has since “been deleted”.However, both the Conservatives and Reform UK have blasted the “abhorrent” resurfaced post. Scottish Tory MSP Murdo Fraser blasted: “Her late Majesty devoted her life to public service and was admired in Scotland and around the world for doing so.Iris Duane – a biological male who identifies as a woman – was elected as a member of the Scottish Parliament for the Glasgow region | GETTY“These disgraceful comments from this newly elected Green MSP are deeply offensive and disrespectful.“Most Scots will find them abhorrent, and the Republican-backing Scottish Greens should make it clear whether they condemn them unequivocally.”Meanwhile, Reform UK lambasted the remarks as “appalling” and “deeply disrespectful”. They added: “Wishing death upon Her late Majesty, especially during a period of declining health, is beyond the bounds of decency and reflects extremely poor judgment.
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The new Green MSP referred to the late Queen as ‘big lizard Lizzie’ | GETTY”Duane should issue a full apology, as should the Scottish Greens for fronting the candidate.”After being elected to Holyrood, the new Green MSP declared: “I know that some will focus on the fact that I am the first black MSP and one of the first openly trans MSPs but that’s not what this election was about.”The English-born candidate previously drew heavy backlash after vowing to try and overturn a ban on transgender people using toilets of the gender they identify with. On the campaign trail, they said: “I think the Parliament should reconsider that decision, and if I was elected I would seek to change it in whatever capacity I could.”The English-born candidate previously vowed to fight a ban on transgender people using toilets of the gender they identify with | GETTYDuane was elected alongside self-described “queer Tamil immigrant”, Q Mannivannan, who won the Edinburgh & Lothians East Holyrood seat for the Greens on Friday. The non-binary PhD student was allowed to stand after the Scottish Government relaxed legislation to allow non-UK citizens to represent Britons.”Addressing supporters after winning the seat, the student said: “My name is Dr Q Manivannan, I am a transgender Tamil immigrant, my pronouns are they/them.”I am to some in this country everything that the hateful despise and I am standing here as your MSP now with care.”They say politics is the art of the possible, a politics of care I would say expands what is possible for everyone left behind, pushed out or never invited in.”