Anger as Tory councillors in anti-Catholic and racist tweets row are re-instated to party

A row has broken out after two Conservative councillors who were suspended over anti-Catholic and racist tweets were re-instated to the party.

Alastair Majury and Robert Davies were disciplined shortly after being elected to Stirling Council in May.

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Majury tweeted in 2012: "Why is the Catholic Church against birth control? Because they'll run out of children to molest."

He also used the term "tarrier" - an offensive term for Catholics - in other posts on his Twitter page.

Meanwhile, Davies was suspended after a series of tweets he posted in 2013 below a picture of black people waiting to board a plane were unearthed.

One read: "In the interests of security keep your loin cloths with you at all times. Spears go in the overhead locker."

A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: "Having served a suspension, both councillors have been readmitted to the party after offering unreserved apologies for any offence caused.

"It has been made abundantly clear that behaviour like this will not be tolerated in future."

But SNP MSP James Dornan said their reinstatement showed that Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson was "a hypocrite".

He said: "She is keen to call out racism, sexism and other unacceptable behaviour, except when her own colleagues are the guilty ones.

 "But this issue goes beyond mere hypocrisy, and exposes the ugly reality of Davidson’s Tories – a party which offers a home to extremist views, turns a blind eye to prejudice and allows those who spout offensive nonsense to hold elected office.

"That is utterly shameful, and the decision to reinstate these councillors makes it perfectly clear that racist and offensive attitudes are welcome in the Scottish Tory party."

Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon said: "It is shocking to see the Tories lift the suspension of these councillors.

"They have made racist and sectarian remarks that have absolutely no place in our society.

"We have worked hard in Scotland to try to tackle racism and sectarianism and there is still more to do. Representing your community in local government is a privilege and an enormous responsibility. The Tories have badly misjudged this and must think again."