AN economist who was suspended from the SNP for posting a “racist” tweet about the Home Secretary has rejected Tory “faux outrage” after a group he convenes held an event for MPs and MSPs.

Tim Rideout’s Scottish Currency Group, which is completely separate from the SNP, hosted a session with SNP politicians last week at which an independent Scotland’s financial options were discussed.

There are thousands of members of the Currency Group, which is advised by a number of senior economics experts and campaigners.

After Angus MacNeil, the SNP MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, posted hailing the meeting – which he said proved why Scotland would need a new currency following a Yes vote – a Conservative MSP expressed her anger.

READ MORE: Scottish Tories furious as 25 Labour candidates back independence or indyref2

Pam Gosal had raised the issue of Rideout’s original tweet during First Minister’s Questions, asking Nicola Sturgeon if she would “root out and condemn toxic racist political discourse” in the SNP. Sturgeon pledged that she would, and encouraged other parties to do the same.

Given this pledge Rideout’s group hosting a currency event with SNP MPs and MSPs in attendance was “appalling”, Gosal said on Tuesday. She claimed his suspension had been “cynical pretence enabling him to retain a key role in the SNP”.

However, the Scottish Currency Group is separate from the SNP – and Rideout says he was not the official host of last week’s session.

“There is no reason why MPs should not have attended a meeting to discuss the currency options for independence,” Rideout told The National.

The National:

“Ms Gosal was actually wrong as I did not host the meeting – it was hosted by our Banking and Finance Working Group and chaired by Dr Robbie Mochrie (who writes a column for The National).”

The economist went on to say that he continues to be suspended from the SNP until a meeting of the Member Conduct Committee is convened.

He reiterated that he has never held a paid position in the party and has always been an “ordinary member volunteer”, despite the “grand” title of working on the Policy Development Committee.

Rideout added: “This is simply Tory ‘faux outrage’ because the Scottish Currency Group (and me) work to promote the adoption of a Scottish Currency as part of the plan for Independence.”

The economist had been suspended from the party for a tweet described as “offensive and disgusting” by an SNP spokesperson.

Replying to another tweet on Priti Patel’s National and Borders Bill, he wrote: "So how do we send this person back to Uganda? Clearly hasn't a shred of humanity. Mind you, maybe the new proposed refugee centre on St Helena might avoid inflicting her on anyone. Can compare notes with Napoleon's ghost."

READ MORE: Jack Monroe issues perfect response as Tory says struggling mum could just eat pasta

Rideout was heavily criticised for the comment, given Patel is UK-born with both Indian and Ugandan heritage.

He apologised after the tweet, and on Tuesday repeated that he was sorry.

“I apologised unreservedly for allowing my dislike of Ms Patel’s immoral and xenophobic approach to immigrants (Ukrainians in the tweet I replied to) to express itself in a way that could be perceived as racist when that was never my intention,” Rideout said.

“I have 10 years experience of real racism in practice during 10 years of school and university in apartheid South Africa. Apartheid is not something that should ever be allowed to be repeated.”