Game of Thrones star Rose Leslie's male parent has sparked fury by maxim political rivals who fight Tory welfare cuts are crying "crocodile tears".

Castle-owning clan chief Sebastian Arbuthnot-Leslie made the remark every bit an Aberdeenshire Council debate on the rollout of universal credit heard information technology would "cause hardship" for Scots in the run-upwards to Christmas.

In draconian comments worthy of the about heartless rulers in the popular United states drama, millionaire and Tory councillor Leslie said: "I'll brand this short and sweet.

"As a man who has stood for the European Parliament twice, stood for Westminster and understands national politics, I feel it a great honour to represent Aberdeenshire as a councillor. Can nosotros stick to council matters in this chamber? And tin nosotros proceed petty, national politics to MSP and MP elections?

Sebastian Arbuthnot-Leslie's girl is Game of Thrones star Rose Leslie

"It's not expert enough for my colleagues across the chamber… to weep crocodile tears when they've had a Government since 2007 in Scotland that's taken money from our upkeep."

The Record has exposed how the rollout of the bungled universal credit is increasing child poverty and forcing people into hardship.

Councils across Scotland are having to spend millions on crisis loans to help desperate people in arrears.

Aberdeenshire E MSP Gillian Martin last night accused Leslie'southward of beingness an "out-of-touch Tory toff".

The SNP politician said: "It's clear from these comments that Sebastian Leslie thinks a lot of himself and non a lot of anyone else.

Arbuthnot-Leslie and his family own their ancestral home of Lickleyhead Castle in Aberdeenshire

"He'south willingly blind to the damage that his own party'due south policies are causing if he call back'due south universal credit is nothing more than 'petty politics'.

"The fact is that callous Tory welfare cuts will bulldoze 400,000 more children into poverty. There are no crocodile tears on this issue.

"Seb Leslie is an out-of-bear upon Tory toff, pontificating on poverty from the condolement of his costly castle home. But the reality is that there are many in our ain communities who oasis't been dealt such an like shooting fish in a barrel hand and rely on food banks just to survive."

The chieftain of Association Leslie and his family lived in the bequeathed home Lickleyhead Castle when Rose was a child.

Arbuthnot-Leslie's actor daughter Rose is engaged to her fellow Game of Thrones star Kit Harington

In 2013, it went on the market place for offers over £i.35million. In February terminal twelvemonth, Rose'south parents were reported to have moved back into the castle, but it is now listed on Airbnb.

Rose, 30, who is i of v siblings, first came to TV viewers' attending every bit aggressive housemaid Gwen in Downton Abbey earlier her quantum function in Game of Thrones.

She played wildling Ygritte, who became the lover of one of the master characters, Jon Snow.

Ygritte frequently told him: "You know nothing, Jon Snow."

Rose has campaigned for the Tories in Aberdeenshire at recent elections.