The Scottish Conservatives have been accused of using "casual racism" in a press release about a former SNP MSP.

Christian Allard, who served as an MSP for three years in the North East region, wrote to the public standards commissioner with a complaint regarding the conduct of Aberdeenshire West MSP Alexander Burnett.

Burnett is accused of failing to properly declare his financial interests in a property company while asking five questions about a housing development by a rival firm in his constituency.

In response, the Scottish Conservatives issued the following press release: "This is a controversial development which hundreds have objected to and Alexander was asking these questions on behalf of a constituent, as any good local MSP would.

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

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

Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer said it was "hard to see" how the quote could not be seen as "casual racism" after bringing up his status as an EU citizen.

He said: "Ruth Davidson needs to clarify quite urgently why her Conservative colleague thinks the views of EU citizens matter less than everyone else we represent as MSPs.

"It's hard to see this as anything other than casual racism. Would the same be said of a refugee or someone from the Commonwealth?"

He added: "Frankly, it shouldn't matter who the person making a complaint is.

"If an elected parliamentarian has failed to mention a potential conflict of interests and could be using their position to pursue something where they have a financial stake, that is absolutely a matter for the public standards commissioner."

The SNP have called on Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson to apologise for the "xenophobic nonsense".

The party's Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin said: "It's beyond belief that the Tories would so brazenly question the rights of EU citizens to have their voices heard - but sadly it is all too typical of the right-wing rabble the Tory group at Holyrood are becoming.

"We need to know whether Ruth Davidson approved this comment - but either way she should get her house in order and apologise for this xenophobic nonsense.

"Christian lives locally and has done for years. He's as entitled as anybody else to play a full role in his local community and it is appalling for the Tories to suggest otherwise."

In response to the calls for the party to apologise, a Scottish Conservative spokesman said: "Mr Allard is entirely within his rights to make a complaint if he wishes and it is ridiculous for the SNP and the Greens to claim we would think otherwise because of his nationality.

"People should simply be aware that he is a former SNP MSP."

Burnett was elected as an MSP in May's Holyrood election.