AN SNP MP charged over a Celtic flag row in Lanarkshire has said Scotland must "root out" anti-Catholic bigotry. 

Steven Bonnar claimed hatred against Catholics is still far too common and told The Times that it “permeates” society.

The MP for Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill was charged last May after he was involved in a foul-mouthed exchange with his neighbour about the football flag, which was in the window of his home in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire.

READ MORE: Lanarkshire MP apologises for heated row with neighbour over Celtic flag

A video of the incident was posted online and a photograph of Bonnar’s house, where the flag was over his 12-year-old daughter’s bedroom window, was also uploaded to social media.

Police were refused entry into Bonnar’s home when they turned up - but offered him a warning for breach of the peace.

Bonnar refused this, and it was escalated to a formal charge, which has now been dropped by the Crown Office.

The MP claimed he was treated with “utter disdain” by officers.

But he insisted that his calls to root out anti-Catholic bigotry in Scotland’s institutions were not directed at police.

He told the paper: “It is no word of a lie that these coppers stood on my door for about 45 minutes, pleading with me to take this yellow piece of paper from them, telling me it would be better for me.

“If I take it and that’s it, it just goes away. I believe that the decision that day to caution me, had I accepted, would have been an attempt to claim I was accepting having done wrong.”

On hatred against Catholics, he said: “I think it permeates across Scottish society. It’s not acceptable in law to be anti-Catholic, to be sectarian or to be racist but so many times we have seen these scenes be allowed to be played out on our streets and nothing happens.

Glasgow Times: Steven Bonnar has served as Coatbridge's MP since 2019 Steven Bonnar has served as Coatbridge's MP since 2019

“I’m unapologetically proud of my tradition, my faith, my football, the team I support, the places I’m from.”

After the incident, the MP said: “I regret being drawn into a dispute with a neighbour and reacting hastily to comments made.

“I apologise for my language and behaviour, and for any upset caused."

Superintendent Raymond Higgins said: “If we receive a complaint about any kind of alleged crime or offence we are duty bound to assess it and then investigate it if necessary, and the public would expect us to do so.”