A former SNP adviser who was suspended for suggesting Priti Patel should be "sent back to Uganda" is set to be readmitted to the party. Tim Rideout, a former member of the SNP 's policy development committee, has agreed to undergo an anti-racism course following comments he made on social media in March this year.
Responding to a tweet criticising then Home Secretary Patel, Rideout tweeted: "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."
It followed the controversial UK Government policy - promoted by Patel - of sending undocumented migrants to Rwanda for processing. Rideout will be allowed back into the party from Friday if he undertakes the training course.
Patel was born in London, but is of Indian and Ugandan heritage. Her paternal grandparents were born in India before emigrating to Uganda. A party committee meeting upheld a complaint of misconduct but it was decided Rideout could rejoin if he agreed to take an educational course.
In a statement Rideout told the Herald : "I shall undertake any training necessary to enable me to continue to play a part in the democracy of a political party. I hope to continue the work to inform SNP members and party policy on the need for a Scottish currency and other aspects of the economic case for independence as we approach the next few decisive years.
"I recognise my personal error in this case of a badly worded tweet, have learned lessons and have fully accepted the consequences. As someone who was expelled from South Africa for my anti-apartheid stance I have definitely been through worse."
Opposition parties hit out at the adviser when he made the remarks earlier this year. Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: "Mr Rideout is an influential figure in the Nationalist movement, which makes this nakedly racist broadside all the more serious."
Ian Murray MP, Labour's Shadow Scottish Secretary, said: "These are truly horrendous and outright racist remarks from a key advisor to Nicola Sturgeon. While I am no supporter of Priti Patel, nobody should be subjected to this kind of out and out racism."
An SNP spokesperson confirmed that a "complaint was upheld, and a sanction imposed" when it came to Rideout's position within the party.
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