A leading Aberdeen councillor was last night urged to apologise for remarks made yesterday which opponents claimed made light of the current downturn in the oil and gas industry.
Conservative Ross Thomson asked SNP members during a full council meeting yesterday: “how is that second oil boom is working out for you?”
The comments were in reference to claims made during the referendum campaign that there could be a massive economic boost for an independent Scotland from undiscovered oil fields.
SNP group spokesman Graham Dickson wrote to Mr Thomson last night calling for an apology.
He said: “Your comments during the full council meeting today were wholly inappropriate and showed complete disregard to the oil and gas sector workers in Aberdeen who have lost their jobs or who are under threat of losing their job.
“You might think that your comments were a clever quip against the SNP or the idea of independence however what you said followed by you laughing at your offensive comments shows you have a complete disregard to the employment of those you were elected to serve.”
Mr Thomson, ward member for Hazlehead, Ashley and Queen’s Cross said he stood by the remarks.
He added: “I felt that whole argument during the referendum to be really deceitful.
“It was a very serious point I made in response to (SNP) councillor Kiddie, sadly the SNP have not taken that on board or are deflecting it with these antics.”