RUTH Davidson was last night under growing pressure to explain why her party had readmitted two councillors suspended over sectarian and racist abuse.

The Scottish Conservative leader refused to appear on a BBC radio programme to answer questions on the reinstatement of Alastair Majury and Robert Davies, suspended by the Tories in May.

Her failure to take part prompted Gary Robertson, presenter of Good Morning Scotland, to post a message on Twitter about her non-appearance.

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“We’ve been told @RuthDavidsonMSP won’t be available for interview this week. We were told the same last week. We’ll keep asking.”

Nicola Sturgeon responded to Robertson’s post and suggested Davidson was evading difficult issues.

“When the going gets tough...” the First Minister wrote on the social media site, before referring to a news story on the reinstatement of the two Stirling councillors.

Davidson’s deputy Murdo Fraser appeared on the radio programme instead yesterday morning, saying the two councillors had “served their time” and were back in the party as their comments were “historic”.

SNP MSP James Dornan hit out at Davidson for her non-appearance.

Ruth Davidson has been posted missing since this growing scandal from within her party broke,” he said.

“She is dodging interview requests, and no wonder – Tory MSP Murdo Fraser’s attempt to defend the indefensible when questioned about this on radio was embarrassing to listen to.

“But sooner or later, she will have to explain her decision to reinstate these two councillors – or people across Scotland will draw the conclusion that bigotry, sectarianism and racism are all more than welcome in Ruth Davidson’s Tory party.”

He added: “Her silence on this is deafening – but utterly unacceptable and unsustainable. She can’t simply try and sweep this under the rug and move on. These two councillors are wholly unfit for office.

“If Ruth Davidson thinks otherwise, then she must tell us all why. Otherwise, we can only draw our own conclusions.”

Davidson has been under considerable pressure having to defend the policies of the UK Tory government and its hard line approach to Brexit.

During the General Election campaign the Scottish Tories were repeatedly pressed on the government’s two child family tax credit cap and the rape clause.

The policy means women who have conceived a third or subsequent child through rape have to prove they were sexually attacked before qualifying for tax credits.

A Scottish Labour spokesman said: “Ruth Davidson is developing a habit of ducking difficult issues. She was shamefully absent from defending her party’s abhorrent rape clause and now she won’t discuss her party’s decision to reinstate these councillors.

“Ruth Davidson’s silence speaks volumes. She should immediately explain why her party thought it was acceptable to reinstate people as members who have made such repugnant comments.

“Leaders across all parties should publicly condemn racism – not silently condone it and hope people won’t notice.”

Majury and Davies were suspended after being elected in May after their online comments emerged. The former was behind an account which tweeted in 2012: “Why is the Catholic Church against birth control? Because they’ll run out of children to molest.” The account also referred to “Tarriers”, a derogatory term used in reference to Catholics. Davies posted tweets appearing to compare black people to cannibals.

A Scottish Conservative spokesman said: “Ruth appears on Good Morning Scotland, and the many other BBC Scotland outlets, as much as any other leader and will continue to do so.”