A university department has been left red-faced after sending an insulting tweet to former Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy.

The University of the West of Scotland's Health and Safety department sent the tweet to Mr Murphy from its account last night.

It said: "@GlasgowMurphy you have no political credibility. Opinions useless. Like all SLab leaders you were a Toom Tabard."

The Herald:

Jim Murphy replied to the tweet asking if it had been sent from 'an official university account'.

The department has apologised to Mr Murphy on Twitter and admitted that it sent the tweet from the wrong account.

A University of the West of Scotland spokesperson said: “The Tweet referred to was not a UWS message and should not have been sent from one of the University's accounts.

“We have been in touch with Jim Murphy's office this morning to discuss the matter and have apologised directly.

“The University is now undertaking an internal investigation.”

The tweet has now been deleted.