The Angus councillor at the centre of a “second class Scots” indyref row said he has nothing to apologise for.
Bill Duff was responding after a group of non-administration members called a special meeting of Angus Council to condemn the comments he made on Twitter.
In conversation with an Edinburgh political blogger in June, Mr Duff said anyone voting against Scottish independence on September 18 was a “second class Scot”.
Breaking his silence publicly for the first time, the Montrose member said the comments were “taken out of context”.
He told The Courier: “I think the whole thing is a complete storm in a teacup. I’m rather surprised that they want to spend taxpayers’ money to organise a special meeting.
“It’s a huge waste of public money. I would say that my comments were taken out of context.
“This isn’t news. Let’s talk about news, let’s talk about the issues, not what somebody said to somebody on Twitter two months ago.”
Asked if he felt he had anything to apologise for, Mr Duff replied: “No, I don’t think so.”
The Courier can reveal a special Angus Council meeting has been called by a group of non-administration members.
The meeting, on a date yet to be arranged, is to condemn the comments made by Mr Duff in the Twitter exchange.
A spokesman for the non-administration group said Mr Duff’s response that it was a “storm in a teacup” was an “insult” to constituents.
Responding to the cost to the public purse, he said all the non-administration members would take no expenses and he hoped SNP members would do the same.
He said: “It is about time Councillor Duff realises that his comments come at a cost of his own making.
“After constituent complaints and consultation, we, as responsible elected members, decided that this type of language could not be tolerated and we should move to condemn remarks of this nature, as they have no place in the referendum debate.
“It was decided that this was the only course of action. Members have sought legal advice from the council’s law and administration department to ensure that this motion is legally competent.
“Whether Councillor Duff writes or just posts this type of material, it is clear that he condones it.
“If that is the case then we would suggest his position has become untenable unless he apologises for these comments.”
For the meeting to go ahead seven elected members’ signatures were required under the council’s Standing Orders.
Eleven signatures were received and the motion reads:
1. We, as Angus councillors, pledge to participate in the forthcoming referendum in a respectful and democratic manner, a commitment as laid down in “the Standards in Public Life”.
2. This council should be an example to others and condemns the comments by an Angus councillor that those voting “no” at the referendum are “second class Scots”.
In conversation with Edinburgh political blogger Kevin Hague @kevverage, Mr Duff said anyone voting against Scottish independence on September 18 is a “second class Scot”.
Mr Duff wrote: “The choice is do you want to be first class Scot, running your own country or a second class one that lets someone else?”
Mr Hague replied: “So you’re calling me a second class Scot?”
The response stated: “If you want someone else to run your company (country)? Yes.”
The Tweet was deleted but his comments ruffled feathers among pro-Union elected members.