Ruth Davidson is under pressure to apologise for a “xenophobic” comment released by her party about a French-born former SNP politician.
The Scottish Conservatives leader has been urged to condemn the remarks made by a party spokesman, which appeared to question the former MSP Christian Allard’s right to engage in Scottish politics based on his EU citizenship.
Mr Allard, who has lived in Scotland for more than 30 years and lost his North East seat in Holyrood this year, reported the Conservative MSP Alexander Burnett to the standards commissioner for failing to reveal his business interests when raising objections to a rival property developer’s plans in Parliament.
Part of the response issued by the Scottish Conservatives’ press office read: “Some people may find it bizarre that an EU citizen has an interest in a planning application in Banchory.”
SNP MSP Gillian Martin described the statement as “appalling” and “xenophobic nonsense”, adding it is “beyond belief” the Tories would question the rights of EU citizens to engage in Scottish politics.
“The consequences of such dog-whistle politics can be very unpleasant indeed, and there is no place for such rhetoric in Scotland,” she said.
“Ruth Davidson’s new boss Theresa May once described the Tories as ‘the nasty party’ – anything less than a full apology and retraction in this case will merely confirm that view.”
The controversy arose after Mr Burnett lodged Holyrood questions about a bid by Ross Developments and Renewables to build 300 homes at Braehead, south of Banchory.
The North East MSP is a major shareholder in a rival property developer, the Bancon Group, which opposes the development.
A Scottish Conservatives spokesman said: “Mr Allard is entirely within his rights to make a complaint if he wishes and it is ridiculous for the SNP to claim we would think otherwise because of his nationality.
“People should simply be aware that he is a former SNP MSP.”
