CONSERVATIVE councillors in Stirling have been allowed to return to the party after being suspended over a string of offensive and racist posts on social media.
The two councillors, Alastair Majury and Robert Davies, were suspended shortly after they were elected in May following the reveal of the content of their social media accounts.
The Stirling Observer uncovered statments such as Majury's 2012 tweet that asked "Why is the Catholic Church against birth control? Because they'll run out of children to molest."
The Conservative councillor also used a derogatory term for Catholics in another tweet.
Davies, the second councillor to be suspended, posted a series of tweets captioning photos of black people waiting to board a cargo plane with phrases such as "No, I am not your lunch. I am your flight attendant."
Another read: "In the interests of security keep your loin cloths with you at all times. Spears go in the overhead locker."
Despite the controversy over their social media accounts, both Tory councillors have been readmitted into the party today.
A spokesman for the party 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."
Criticising news of the reinstatement of Councillors Majury and Davies, Stirling East SNP Councillor Alison Laurie said:
“This is an utterly outrageous move for the Tory Party to make with regards to Councillors Majury and Davies – both of whom have demonstrated that they are unfit to serve in office and represent out local communities. Unfortunately, this is just another sad episode from a Tory Party that has lurched to the right.
“Far from taking decisive action, Ruth Davidson has sent out a message that this sort of abusive, offensive, and xenophobic behaviour online is acceptable in the Tory Party. Instead, the two disgraced Tory Councillors will continue to take part in decisions that will, for example, determine the Council’s strategy for tackling bullying in schools.
“People across Stirling will be disgusted by this outcome and the Tory Group on Stirling Council should do the right thing and remove the Whip from Councillors Majury and Davies immediately and permanently.”
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