POLITICIANS have blasted vandalism of a candidate’s sign ahead of the Scottish Parliament Election next week.

East Lothian will go to the polls next Thursday (May 6) to elect an MSP to succeed the retiring Iain Gray.

Ahead of polling day, Craig Hoy, who is the Conservatives’ candidate, hit out at vandalism of his sign, with the message “f*** the Tories” daubed over it.

He took to social media and said: “Hope Paul McLennan and East Lothian SNP can put our differences aside to strongly condemn this act of political vandalism – which is sadly all too commonplace.

“We don’t want the election in East Lothian to be tarnished by this uncivic behaviour.”

Mr McLennan, the SNP candidate, backed Mr Hoy and said he was “really sorry” to see it.

He added: “I condemn this as strongly as I can – the campaign, hustings and candidate interaction have been really respectful so far.

“Disappointed that a minority want to lower the tone of the debate by engaging in acts of vandalism.”

Mr Hoy and Mr McLennan, both councillors on East Lothian Council, are up against Euan Davidson (Liberal Democrats) and Martin Whitfield (Labour) in the contest to replace Mr Gray, who has been the county’s MSP since 2007.