A MOTION supporting Tranent singer Caitlyn Vanbeck's as a positive role model for victims of bullying has been lodged at the Scottish Parliament - despite the issue dividing opinion on social media.
Rachael Hamilton, South of Scotland MSP, lodged the motion after Caitlyn, 18, appeared at the audition stage of the X Factor and spoke on national TV about her experiences with bullies at school.
The former Ross High School pupil told X Factor judges Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh that bullies at the school "didn't take" to her singing.
Caitlyn, who sailed through to the next round of the competition, reduced judge Nicole to tears.
However there has been some controversy about her comments with some people on social media defending Ross High School.
On Thursday evening, Tranent comedian and fundraiser Scott Glynn tweeted that there were even allegations that the teenager had been a bully herself. 
Caitlyn's dad Paul Vanbeck then responded on Twitter that this was not certainly not true and told Scott that his contribution was not helpful and that Caitlyn wanted to move on from the issue. Mr Glynn and Mr Vanbeck's tweets were later deleted.
Mr Glynn later told the Courier: "I wish nothing but good for Caitlyn and anyone who is doing so well. I just wanted to warn her to be careful on Facebook as others were making negative comments."
In a motion put before the Scottish Parliament, Rachael Hamilton urged Holyrood to congratulate Caitlyn, who is now bookies favourite to win the contest at odds of 11/2.
She asked that the Scottish Parliament "understands that Caitlyn spoke about her experience of being bullied at school and how she tried to not let that hold her back; believes that Caitlyn will be a positive role model for those who have also experienced bullying, as well as a great ambassador for Tranent and for Scotland, and wished her all the best of luck at boot camp.
The boot camp stage of the competition will begin to be shown on ITV next weekend (Saturday, September 17).