LONDON (Reuters) - British actor Sean Connery said on Tuesday he had been subjected to character assassination in a row over claims he had been turned down for a knighthood. Connery, the suave Scot best known for playing James Bond in the 1960s, said he disliked the way remarks he once made about violence towards women and his status as a tax exile had been dredged up in speculation over why he may have lost out on Britain's highest honour. Connery told BBC radio from his home in the Bahamas: "I don't like the turn it has taken now when they drag up something from the past about my violence towards women... If they want to do a character assassination on me that's their way of justifying saying, well we shouldn't give it to him," he added angrily. A Sunday newspaper claimed Connery, 67, had been turned down for a knighthood last year by the Labour government because of his vociferous support for Scottish independence. Connery has been a fervent supporter for 40 years of the Scottish National Party, which wants to break away from rule by London. Knighthoods and other honours are decided on by the government and actually bestowed by the queen. The government has refused to comment on the claims, describing the story as speculation. But unnamed government sources are reported to have expressed concern about remarks by Connery several years ago in which he appeared to suggest there were occasions when it was acceptable for a man to slap a woman. Connery, one of Britain's most prolific movie stars, on Tuesday denied "absolutely" that he had ever said it was all right to hit women but admitted his comments "might have been stupid". Connery has lived abroad for many years. He said he had no knowledge of any discussions about a possible knighthood or who might have blocked the award. Labour Member of Parliament Malcolm Chisholm told the BBC the story was based on speculation and had got completely out of hand.