A PORT councillor has told how he was branded a NAZI as he handed out leaflets for the Yes Scotland campaign.

Councillor Jim MacLeod was shocked and disgusted at the jibes, which happened on two separate occasions in Port Glasgow town centre.

The SNP politician was canvassing voters locally as part of the Yes campaign when he was verbally attacked for the first time.

Mr MacLeod told the Telegraph: “I’ve been 21 years in politics and I’ve never been called a Nazi before.

“Everybody was very nice but one person came up and I asked him if he wanted a leaflet.

“He said ‘no, I’m not taking a leaflet from Nazis’.

“I was astonished — I was just shocked to be referred to as a Nazi. I was very taken aback.

“I’ve been called a lot of things over the years but never that.” A week later, in a separate incident, Jim was verbally abused again by another man.

Councillor MacLeod said: “The following week another guy came along and said he wasn’t taking leaflets off of ‘Hitlers’.” Jim, pictured, says that the insults were particularly hurtful as his late father fought against the Nazis to ensure the freedom of future generations.

He said: “My father was called up as an 18-year-old and served in the last six months of the Second World War.

“He fought against the fascists, the very people I’m being compared to.

“My dad served in the army for three years, in France, Germany, Italy and Greece.

“I’m absolutely astounded someone would say something like that to me.” Cllr MacLeod says name calling has crept into the independence debate from the very top.

He said: “I have heard and seen other things during this campaign — Alistair Darling of the No camp comparing Alex Salmond to former North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il doesn’t help.

“People can vote for Yes or for No, people are entitled to their viewpoint — but to call me a Nazi?

“If they don’t approve of the leaflets that’s fine, all they need to say is ‘no thanks’.”