THE TORIES in Aberdeen are standing by Ryan Houghton, despite his suspension for “unacceptable” comments on the Holocaust.

Opposition leaders on the city council have said he should at least be sacked from his role as the senior business manager in the ruling Tory, Aberdeen Labour and independent administration.

On Tuesday night, the co-leader of the city council, Douglas Lumsden – who is also the Tory Westminster candidate in Aberdeen South – said Houghton would remain a member of the party’s group on the local authority while investigations take place.

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He told the Press and Journal: “We are still considering his position currently. There is a full council meeting on December 9, so it will be considered then.

“He is suspended from the party but remains in the group while the internal process takes place.

“Hopefully it will be quick and then we can look more closely at it.”

SNP group leader Stephen Flynn, another Aberdeen South candidate, said: “I’ve already spoken with folk across Aberdeen who find it utterly bizarre that comments that have been deemed ‘unacceptable’ by the Tories, and have led to his suspension from the party, haven’t led to councillor Houghton being suspended from the Tory Group by Douglas Lumsden.

“Due to the manner in which the council rules are written, only the administration have the power to remove him from his paid role as business manager before March 2020.

“It will seem inconceivable to many that Douglas Lumsden doesn’t appear to want to take action sooner.”

Bizarrely, Houghton’s suspension means that 11 of Aberdeen’s 44 councillors have now been suspended by their national parties.

The nine Labour members remain in limbo after going into coalition with the Tories.

While Tory councillor Alan Donnelly is currently facing charges of sexual harassment.

The Tories were also forced to suspend a second candidate over antisemitic remarks yesterday.

READ MORE: Labour Holocaust survivor 'sickened' by Ryan Houghton's posts

In 2014, Amjad Bashir, who is standing for the party in Leeds North East claimed young Jewish people were being “brainwashed” in Israel.

In a speech made when he was a Ukip MEP, he said: “Young men are going over from England where I come from – people of the Jewish faith who my grandchildren have grown up with as decent young men.

“But have come back as extremists – as people that are brainwashed.

“They will not listen to reason. There is something very peculiar and wrong going on Israel.”

A party spokesperson said: “Mr Bashir has been suspended from the party pending investigation and election support has been withdrawn.”

Bashir told the Jewish Chronicle: “I deeply regret the comments I made around brainwashing – this was borne from a personal experience but it was completely wrong and I apologise unreservedly for it.

“I accept the tone I took has caused alarm and distress within the Jewish community, for which I apologise.

“I continue to believe that the only hope for lasting peace for both Israel and Palestine is constructive dialogue and I will continue to work with both communities to do whatever I can to help achieve that”.

Meanwhile, an SNP councillor has been suspended by the Standards Commissioner for three months after sharing allegedly antisemitic material online.

West Lothian’s Frank Anderson was sanctioned after sharing a controversial blog on the Grouse Beater website about GMB Scotland organiser Rhea Wolfson, who is Jewish.

He later apologised unreservedly. The GMB have urged the SNP to expel the councillor.