A Fife Labour MP has received an apology from a senior SNP councillor who described him as “an odious creature” on a social network website.
Lindsay Roy, who represents Glenrothes and Central Fife, had demanded a full and unreserved apology from Councillor John Beare.
He also asked the commissioner for ethical standards in public life and the chief executive of Fife Council to investigate the behaviour of the councillor for Glenrothes North, Leslie and Markinch.
Mr Roy said the remark was “highly offensive” and questioned whether Mr Beare could retain his position as chairman of Fife Council’s standards and audit committee.
The post was still visible on Monday morning but was removed by the afternoon, after Mr Beare was contacted by The Courier.
Mr Beare, who is also chairman of the Fife Planning Review body, attacked the MP in a comment to a post made by fellow SNP councillor David Alexander on January 1.
Mr Alexander, in his post, hit out at comments made by Mr Roy in a newspaper article in which the MP referred to such issues as tax cuts for millionaires and the sharp rise in food banks, and accused him of “gut-churning hypocrisy”.
The post attracted five responses, with Mr Beare stating: “He is an odious creature who has done nothing for this town.”
Mr Roy said: “To say that I was shocked when this was brought to my attention by independent councillor Bryan Poole is putting it mildly.
“Politicians are used to the occasional disparaging comments from opponents and accept that it goes with the territory.
“However, Councillor Beare’s use of language is totally unacceptable and goes beyond the pale.
“For the chairman of the local authority’s standards and audit committee to behave in this way is disgraceful what part of standards doesn’t he understand?”
Mr Beare said: “Having re-read the comment, I note that it is fashioned in language which is probably a little more pointed than I would normally be associated with and in that regard, I am happy to withdraw it and to apologise to anyone who may have taken offence.”
Steve Grimmond, Fife Council chief executive, said: “We have received the letter from Lindsay Roy MP and we will investigate the issues that he has raised.”