THE Aberdeen Conservatives have been blasted after a Tory councillor who was suspended over social media posts about the Holocaust has become leader of the group.

Ryan Houghton was chosen by colleagues to head up the Tory group yesterday afternoon but an official vote will take place on Thursday.

But in 2019 he was suspended as a candidate in Aberdeen North over his racist internet history.

In a series of old posts made on a martial arts forum – uncovered by The National and the Twitter account @matesjacob – Ryan Houghton suggested some events around the Nazi regime’s state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews had been “fabricated”.

He also praised the “interesting" research of the discredited British historian and Adolf Hitler apologist David Irving. In another post, he suggested fellow users on the martial arts forum should have a debate on how the Holocaust had been “exaggerated by the victors.”

In other discussions he said he didn’t see how homosexuality was good for the human race and, in comments that will only add to claims that the Tories have an Islamophobia problem, Houghton claimed Muslims were having big families in a bid to create “Eurabia”.

READ MORE: Scottish Tory candidate axed after we uncover sick racist internet history

Writing on the forum in 2013 under the username Razgriz, Houghton said there is “no credible evidence to suggest the Holocaust did not happen” but that “I do find some of the events fabricated, and exegarated [sic] in some cases.”

He added: “As history is written by the victors there is always going to be a bit of re-writing.”

When another forum user described Irving as a charlatan, Houghton leapt to the defence of the notorious Holocaust denier.

Irving, who has written more than 20 books, has been widely condemned for his sympathetic view of Hitler and for disputing the official account of the Holocaust.

Houghton told The National at the time: “These posts were made on private discussion forums about eight years ago. Much of this has been taken totally out of context. And I made very clear at the time that I was not defending the views of David Irving in any way.

“I do not hold, and have never held, anti-Semitic, racist or homophobic views. I would strongly refute any suggestion to the contrary.”

But a Tory spokesman said: “The comments contained in these blogs are unacceptable and Houghton has been suspended as a member of the Scottish Conservative party as a result.

“The party has also withdrawn its support for his candidacy in Aberdeen North. The Scottish Conservatives deplores all forms of Islamophobia, homophobia and anti-Semitism.”

The party later allowed Houghton back in after a six-month investigation without further sanction.

The Aberdeen Conservatives leader job is up for grabs as previous Tory leader Douglas Lumsden steps down having been elected to Holyrood. While he is to continue on as a councillor until next year’s local elections, he is giving up the co-leadership and his convener role on the city growth and resources committee.

Houghton ascension to council co-leader, a job shared with Aberdeen Labour‘s Jenny Laing, will need the approval of councillors though, and is likely to be put to a vote of the urgent business committee towards the end of the week.

He said: “I hope to build on the last four years and the significant projects our administration has taken through – and this year is critically important in terms of getting the Covid recovery right.

“Not just for the council but for everyone across Aberdeen, it matters so much that we come out of the pandemic investing in our people and places and ensuring not only we have strong and resilient public services, but also that we have done our part to help stimulate the economic recovery working with national governments, the private sector and third sector organisations as well.

“Everyone gets that importance – there is an urgent sense of mission in taking the city forward.”

Liberal Democrat group leader Ian Yuill told the Aberdeen Evening Express: “We will not be supporting Mr Houghton’s nomination as co-leader as we believe he still has questions to answer over his comments from several years ago.

“Whilst I accept people can change, those comments were and still remain alarming and concerning.

“The choice of group leader is obviously a matter for the Conservative group but the choice of co-leader is a choice for the council.

“But ultimately the Conservatives, and their Labour and independent sidekicks, in the unholy coalition will appoint whoever they wish.”

“It’s a disgrace that after being sneaked back into the Tory party, that Ryan Houghton could be leading our city soon.”

“The Tories of course do not have a majority and any appointment as co-leader will need cross party support.

“I hope councillors of other parties will put the city and its reputation first.”

The leader of the largest single group on the council, the SNP’s Alex Nicoll said Houghton's comments were “completely at odds with what our council stands for” and a “betrayal of the diverse communities that make up our city”.

“It’s a disgrace that after being sneaked back into the Tory party, that Ryan Houghton could be leading our city soon," he said.

“The Tories of course do not have a majority and any appointment as co-leader will need cross party support.

“I hope councillors of other parties will put the city and its reputation first.”

Houghton said he “accepted it would be brought up”.

He added: “The suspension happened, I went through the process and I was readmitted to the Conservative party with no further sanction.

“I dealt with the matter at the time, apologising and speaking with anyone who wanted to around this issue.

“It is important to highlight this incident is based on stuff from 2011-12, almost a decade ago and well before I was involved in elected politics.

“I think that has been understood and I am more than happy to point to record I have as a councillor, driving forward equality and support for minority groups.

“And I also think it’s important to look at someone’s record in the whole: I served my country for seven years in the Royal Air Force.

“I have very much been about public service and I hope that is recognised.

“If any of my councillor colleagues have concerns I am more than happy to sit down and address them – I have spoken to Ian Yuill virtually since and he has not mentioned any in person.”