Trolled : Nick Robinson has been attacked by online trolls after revealing he has lung cancer . Veteran broadcaster Nick Robinson has been abused online after announcing he is battling cancer . The BBC said at the weekend that its political editor is to take time off to have a tumour removed from his lung . But he was immediately the subject of vile abuse online from Twitter trolls who accused him of both pro-Tory bias and anti-SNP sentiment . Stephen Smyth , whose Twitter ‘ handle ’ – his online name – includes an SNP logo , sent a message reading ‘ karma ’ direct to Mr Robinson , 51 , and the BBC . Other Twitter users described Mr Smyth as an SNP member and urged the party to expel him . Last night , the SNP had not confirmed or denied if he was a member . Phoenix45blog – the 45 seemingly a reference to the percentage who voted Yes – wrote : ‘ A bit of chemotherapy would do the biased beeb man good. ’ This prompted widespread condemnation on the site , with posters calling it ‘ vile ’ and ‘ disgusting ’ . One , Alex , tweeted : ‘ You are one sad individual. ’ Initially , phoenix45blog replied : ‘ Nope , I ’ m quite happy about this news. ’ But he later changed his mind , tweeting : ‘ I apologise unreservedly for the prior tweet . It was tasteless . I wish you a speedy recovery Nick . # contrite. ’ Jimmy James – whose Twitter profile sports the number 45 – said that ‘ diagnosis aside ’ Mr Robinson was an “ ****hole ” . It was not just cybernats who were guilty of abuse . Maenad Nanna tweeted from Wales : ‘ Self-respecting lung tumour wants removing from mendacious @ BBCNews Tory shill Nick Robinson. ’ When Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted he wished Mr Robinson well , one individual replied that he was a ‘ little Englander scumbag like that **** Cameron ’ . A second tweet responding to the same message said : ‘ Looks like @ DavidCameron ’ s director of communications is off sick , poor man. ’ Sick : Two of the vile messages sent to the BBC political editor after he announced he has cancer . The comments were widely condemned – including by the SNP . Former Labour First Minister Lord McConnell said they were ‘ sick ’ . First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted her support , wishing Mr Robinson a speedy recovery . The presenter became a hate figure among some Nationalists during the referendum campaign , with protesters outside BBC Scotland ’ s Glasgow headquarters calling for him to be sacked for what they saw as biased coverage . At the time , Alex Salmond refused to condemn them , calling the demonstrations ‘ joyous ’ . During the referendum campaign , the SNP was constantly embarrassed by the online army of cybernats . JK Rowling and David Bowie were two of many who earned their wrath for speaking out in favour of the Union . Dispute : The SNP had a public spat with Robinson , 51 , during the campaign , with dozens of members making official complaints and some even calling him a 'liar ' in banners as they paraded through Glasgow 's streets . Last night , Scottish politicians warned such abuse threatened to silence democratic debate in the run-up to May ’ s General Election . A Scottish Labour spokesman said : ‘ These tweets are beneath contempt . There is no place in Scottish life for this kind of bile . ‘ Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP must immediately distance themselves from these vile comments and call on their more extreme supporters to stop polluting social media with vicious personal attacks . ‘ This online bullying is in danger of destroying public debate. ’ A Scottish Tory spokesman said : ‘ These comments are despicable , but won ’ t surprise anyone who saw the depths some people stooped to during the referendum campaign . ‘ It ’ s important all political parties lead by example and condemn this sort of behaviour. ’ An SNP spokesman said : ‘ We deplore all internet abuse , as we have made consistently clear , and the First Minister has wished Nick Robinson well for a speedy recovery. ’ When Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted he wished Mr Robinson well , one individual replied that he was a ‘ little Englander scumbag like that **** Cameron ’ Mr Robinson hopes the operation to remove a bronchial carcinoid tumour from his lung will take place within the next month so he can return to work before the General Election . He remarked of his illness and its proximity to the election : ‘ Timing lousy . Prognosis good. ’ Both the broadcaster ’ s parents smoked , but while he has admitted to the ‘ odd drag on cannabis at university ’ , he has said he has always been so anti-nicotine that he ‘ was the sort of irritating child who used primary school art classes to make anti-smoking propaganda ’ .
Journalist recently announced diagnosis and will take leave for treatment . Among sick tweets was 'chemotherapy would do biased Mr Robinson man good ' The Scottish National Party has distanced itself from the vile comments . Tweets attributed to Cybernats - extreme online backers of Yes campaign .