The Scottish government has withdrawn the nomination of its proposed higher education minister after it emerged that she once branded transgender students as ¡°hairy-knuckled laydees¡±.

Gillian Martin was selected as a junior minister on 27 June but a day later her name was removed from a list due to be considered by MSPs after details of the post ¨C written before she entered politics ¨C emerged.

First minister Nicola Sturgeon said that she would not ask the Scottish parliament to approve the appointment of a higher education minister ¡°until I have had a chance to reflect further¡±.

In the 2007 blog post, Ms Martin complained of ¡°political correctness¡± in colleges, claiming that public relations staff ¡°froth at the mouth with excitement if anyone in a wheelchair does anything that can be remotely described as an achievement¡±.

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An ¡°orphaned, single-parent, gender-confused, blind, Aboriginal, one-legged, cross-dressing, lesbian, dyslexic, ex-con, Muslim¡± would be the ¡°holy grail¡± for colleges, said Ms Martin, a former college lecturer.

Ms Martin asked: ¡°Are we going to see lovely photos in the foyer of hairy knuckled lipstick-wearing transitional transgender laydees being embraced by the principal of undisclosed college or visiting politicians for the press?¡±

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In a statement, Ms Martin, who was also due to have responsibility for further education, said that she accepted Ms Sturgeon¡¯s decision.

¡°In a blog I wrote 11 years ago across a range of issues I used language that was inappropriate and offensive. I reported comments from other people which have caused offence, and made statements in a way which does not represent my views then or now,¡± Ms Martin said.

¡°I deleted this blog some time ago precisely because I accepted that it contained unacceptable content ¨C but I recognise that these posts should never have been published in the first place. That is entirely my responsibility and I am deeply sorry.¡±

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com