Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has been asked to apologise by a former SNP MSP over a statement released by her party about him.

The former MSP said the remarks were "offensive".

French-born former MSP Christian Allard has written to Davidson asking her to apologise over the statement.

The statement was issued to STV News after Allard complained to the standards commissioner about Conservative MSP Alexander Burnett raising issues over a housing development while holding £5.5m of shares in a rival property developer.

It said: "Some people may find it bizarre that an EU citizen has an interest in a planning application in Banchory.

"It is easily explained when people understand the planning consultant in ­question is an SNP appointee to the Scottish Government housing committee and Christian Allard was a former SNP MSP."

The party's director of communications Eddie Barnes conceded in an email to SNP MSP Gillian Martin the press release issued by his press office could be misinterpreted and asked for an apology to be extended to Allard on his behalf if any offence was caused.

Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer described the language used as "casual racism" and SNP MSP Gillian Martin said it was "xenophobic nonsense".

In the email to Allard, Barnes stressed no one in the party was xenophobic.

Allard described Barnes' words as a "grudging half apology" in a letter to Davidson.

He said: "In 2013, your then MSP Cameron Buchanan intervened during a speech asking: 'How can you call yourself Scottish with that Maurice Chevalier accent?'

"You jumped into action, demanding that your MSP apologised, which he did swiftly.

"Despite having ample opportunity and the considerable media appetite, neither I nor the SNP sought to make anything of this ill-judged comment at the time.

"The apology came promptly and with sincerity and I was happy to accept it in good faith.

"In fact, Cameron Buchanan even invited me to dinner at a French restaurant of my choice in Edinburgh to make amends - and I was delighted to recommend l'Escargot Bleu on Broughton Street."

The former north east MSP called on Davidson to take responsibility and "accept that the response was offensive, show leadership and apologise".

Davidson said she supports Barnes' comments.

She said: "I back up what Eddie Barnes says in his email and, if Mr Allard wants Eddie to take him out for dinner, I'll make sure he does."