A former SNP councillor has been found guilty of breaching the code of conduct for local elected officials after she called a Labour councillor who was born in Sri Lanka a "new Scot.”
Kairin van Sweeden made the remark about Labour councillor Deena Tissera during a meeting of Aberdeen Council in 2023.
Ms van Sweeden referred herself to the Commissioner following a complaint by Ms Tissera that the remark was racist.
Following a year-long investigation, the Standards commission has concluded that the remark was used in a derogatory manner, aimed at disparaging Councillor Tissera and belittling her position as a British citizen of Sri Lankan descent.
Ms Van Sweeden said during the meeting: "I’d like to move on to talk about Councillor Tissera’s point about austerity.
“I realise as a New Scot that Councillor Tissera maybe doesn’t know about the mitigations that we have to...that the SNP government had to put in over the years that they have been in power.
"For example, the bedroom tax. Maybe you’re not aware of the bedroom tax, but that started a long time ago, so please do not tell us...that we are causing austerity..."
She argued that the phrase ‘new Scot’ appeared in literature from both Aberdeen Council and the Scottish Government, referring to asylum seekers, and was not in itself racist.
She said she had been singled out on social media for using the phrase, and saying in her submission: “ ... the idea that anyone is any less able due to their skin colour, ethnicity or country of origin is illogical and nefarious to me and have always abhorred racism and bigotry of any kind.
“For the reasons given above I do not believe that I have breached the Councillor's Code of Conduct and I apologised, genuinely, for somehow having given the reverse impression to Councillor Tissera.”
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However, the commission found her remark has breached its code, and was not covered by exemptions which cover freedom of expression.
Following the ruling, Councillor Tissera stated: “This comment not only undermined my professional competence based on my place of birth, but also suggested I am less Scottish than my peers, making me feel inferior because of my race.
“No one should ever feel this way in their workplace.”
She added, “It is crucial that we address racism in all its forms because it has no place in our politics or our workplaces. We must foster an environment of respect and equality.”
Councillor van Sweeden has been approached for comment.
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