A FORMER Labour MP who was suspended by the party over comments he made about the Jewish community has apologised after accusing Finance Secretary Derek Mackay of “raping” councils.

Councillor Jim Sheridan, who was reinstated by Labour last month, hit out at Mr Mackay on Facebook and branded him “deceitful” and a “charlatan”.

He said that “having raped Scottish councils of cash [Mr Mackay] now cynically suggests councils can raise their own funds, and of course suffer the political consequences”.

Cllr Sheridan later said he was using the word raped to mean "plunder or strip something of resources", and insisted he did not regret his choice of language.

But just hours later, Scottish Labour said he had “rightly deleted the post” and sent journalists a link to his full apology on Facebook, where he U-turned on his previous position.

SNP MP Gavin Newlands said the remarks were “quite frankly disgusting and beneath contempt” – and called for the Renfrewshire councillor to resign or be kicked out of Labour.

He said: “It is an inexcusable statement from anyone, let alone an elected local representative and former MP.

“Cllr Sheridan’s re-admittance to the Labour Party following his shameful comments about the Jewish community was in my opinion, an outrageous decision.

“An opinion which is shared with many members in his own Renfrewshire labour council group and many high profile members of the Labour Party across the UK.

“Cllr Sheridan is entitled to his own views on local government finance, but to reference rape in describing a council budget is callous, degrading and deeply misogynistic.

“This language is diminishing of the suffering of survivors and victims of gender-based violence and is indefensible.

“If Cllr Sheridan had any decency he would resign as a councillor but failing this, Jeremy Corbyn and Richard Leonard should show leadership and kick him out of the party for good.”

It comes just weeks after Cllr Sheridan was reinstated to Labour after being suspended last year.

His suspension reportedly followed a social media post in which he spoke about his loss of “respect and empathy” for the Jewish community amid Labour's antisemitism row.

He initially stood by his latest comments when contacted by The Herald.

He said: “If you Google the word raped, under this context it is to plunder or strip something of resources.

“And that’s exactly what Derek Mackay and the Scottish Government are doing to councils the length and breadth of Scotland.

“Councils are on the brink of collapse, and that’s the context in which I used the word raped. Not in any other context whatsoever.”

Asked if he understood why some people might find it offensive, he said: “Words have got all sorts of connotations, but I posted it in the context I’ve just told you.”

He said he did not regret using the word, adding: “I just wish the press would pay as much attention to what people are suffering out there, than what words mean or what they don’t mean.”

However, Cllr Sheridan later U-turned on this position, posting an apology to Facebook which read: “I have deleted my offensive post about the SNP's council cuts, it was wrong to use that kind of language and I apologise.

“The SNP is cutting council budgets by £230 million in real terms next year, on top of the £1.5 billion cuts already inflicted on us. Many councils are at breaking point and local services are severely suffering.

“The facts are bad enough without having to resort to the words I used and I don't want anything to detract from that."

The former Paisley and Renfrewshire North MP lost his seat in 2015 and now represents the Houston, Crosslee and Linwood ward on Renfrewshire Council.