Argyll and Bute council’s communication manager, Jo Smith, admitted during a social media event in Glasgow that she uses ‘spy accounts’ to monitor groups which oppose the council.

A source told Deadline: “She described how she set up fake accounts on Facebook and Twitter to spy on people and groups who oppose the council.

“From a professional public relations point of view it is really poor behaviour.”

Smith has however now denied the use of fake accounts, saying “people are coming to us with things they have seen on social media.”

A spokesperson for the council said: “Argyll and Bute council does not use and does not condone the use of covert social media accounts.”