Nicola Sturgeon says Donald Trump remarks ‘misogyny at its worst’

Donald Trump’s defence of his lewd comments about women as “locker room banter” have been condemned as “misogyny at its worst” by Nicola Sturgeon.

Scotland’s First Minister told Sky News she was “horrified” at his obscene remarks and the allegations of sexual harassment against him.

The SNP leader took the unusual step – as the head of a foreign government – of urging Americans not to vote for the outspoken Republican candidate, who has significant business interests in Scotland.

With his campaign embroiled in controversy and lagging behind in the polls, Mr Trump has claimed the election is “being rigged” in favour of his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

The tycoon has also challenged her to take a drugs test ahead of their final presidential debate on Wednesday, suggesting she had been “all pumped up” during their previous head-to-head encounter.

Mr Trump provoked widespread criticism after his degrading comments about groping women became public.

He initially dismissed the remarks on a 2005 video tape as “locker room banter” before the scale of the backlash forced him to issue an apology.

Speaking on Sky News’ Murnaghan programme, Ms Sturgeon said: “I’m horrified not just by the comments he has made or in some cases the things he’s reportedly done, but also the dismissal of that kind of language and those kind of attitudes as just ‘locker room banter’.

“That is really misogyny at its worst and I think we’ve all got to stand up against that.”

Acknowledging the break with protocol, Ms Sturgeon said: “It’s not usual for politicians in other countries to comment on elections in other countries. And certainly not for leaders of governments to do so.

“This is America’s election, it’s up to America how it votes. but how America votes, who is the President of America has implications for the rest of the world.

“So I’m not going to try and beat around the bush here.

“I hope America doesn’t elect Donald Trump. I hope it elects Hillary Clinton.

“I also think it would be a really good moment to see America elect its first female president.”