SNP MSP Kaukab Stewart has demanded answers from Douglas Ross on why a "racist" Tory candidate was selected for the upcoming local election.

The National revealed yesterday Bruce Whyte is set to stand in the Glasgow ward of Langside.

But he is facing calls from opponents to stand down over comments he made online about the number of people of Pakistani origin living in the diverse area of Pollokshields.  

The Scottish Tories strongly deny Whyte’s comments were racist, but Stewart has called on the party leader to remove him from the ballot paper.

The National:

The Glasgow Kelvin MSP said:"The people of Glasgow have a proud history of rejecting fascists and racists at the ballot box but these abhorrent comments make clear Bruce Whyte must not end up on a ballot paper at this election.

“There is absolutely no place for racism, sectarianism or intolerance in Scotland and these absolutely sickening comments cannot, and must not, be tolerated in a civilised society.

“Douglas Ross must intervene and remove Bryce Whyte as a Conservative candidate immediately and answer why he was ever selected in the first place.”

In a post from 2014, Whyte highlighted the growing ethnic diversity of Glasgow since 2001. noting increases in the numbers of people from African and Caribbean countries as well as those from Indian and Bangladeshi heritage.

But he questioned whether the official numbers of Pakistanis were correct.

READ MORE: Tories would fall behind Labour in new Holyrood vote, poll finds

He wrote: “The total number of Pakistanis ‘registered’ in Pllockshields [sic] East & West is just over 4000 against a total population count of 14,000!!! I challenge anyone to walk, ride or drive through this area and see evidence that supports there [are] as many white or black residents as Pakistanis in these areas. I wonder what the figures are for attendance at the local mosques?”

The National revealed earlier this week the Tories were also standing former Ukip candidate Jamie Robertson in the Dennistoun ward.

It emerged he follows far-right channels on YouTube, has called for a ban on Islamic slaughter methods and once approvingly shared a video featuring a Brexit campaigner who was filmed in 2019 calling a Remainer a “f****** traitor” at a rally.