Andrew Neil has rejected union calls for his resignation as editor-in-chief of Scotsman Publications.

In his first interview since staff issued a vote of no confidence in him earlier this week, Mr Neil described the move as a "stunt" by the National Union of Journalists.

He also defended his controversial decision to merge several sections of The Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday, with the loss of 18 editorial jobs.

Mr Neil, the former editor of the Sunday Times, has built a fearsome reputation for sacking journalists.

Mr Neil is publisher and editor-in-chief

But now his staff at The Scotsman have turned the tables and called for his sacking.

About 130 journalists at The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and the Edinburgh Evening News voted unanimously to ask Mr Neil to spend more time tending his roses.

They cited sinking sales, a round of job losses and a feeling that Mr Neil's newspapers have lost touch with contemporary Scotland.

The motion passed by the journalists said that the "the proposal is the latest in a series of ill-advised decisions under the guidance of Andrew Neil which have served only to damage the titles".

They said they were "incredulous" that management could propose making further cuts when they were already overstretched.

What the NUJ thinks, to me, is like a gnat on the back of a hippopotamus

Andrew Neil Editor-in-chief

However, Mr Neil - who became editor-in-chief in May 1997 - told the BBC's Newsnight Scotland programme that he had no plans to resign.

He said the company had begun a consultation programme to achieve more efficiencies and cut costs.

"We could do without these stunts. The NUJ didn't appoint me and the NUJ won't fire me," he said.

"What the NUJ thinks, to me, is like a gnat on the back of a hippopotamus."

He said Scotsman Publications had not announced any redundancies - although several other newspapers and media companies had shed large numbers of staff.

Revenues down

"There is nothing happening at The Scotsman group of newspapers that is not happening at newspapers up and down the land," said Mr Neil.

"This is a terrible time for newspapers."

He said The Scotsman's circulation was the same as it was in 1997, although revenues were down by 15% in the last two years.

"I have got to safeguard as many jobs as I can, keep the papers profitable and financially prosperous and at the same time invest millions of pounds in our newspapers, which we have done over the last six years," he added.