An Inverness councillor has apologised for making allegedly anti-Semitic remarks.
However, Norrie Donald insisted he would not be resigning after he was reported to have made derogatory comments in connection with Tesco’s withdrawal from more than 40 stores across the UK.
Mr Donald is alleged to have referred to the grocery giant being owned by a Jewish family who lived in “the lap of luxury in Switzerland”. He is also reported to have said he would not mind if the company collapsed.
Carolyn Wilson, the leader of the Independent group on Highland Council – of which Mr Donald is a member – said on Friday that the comments were “wholly inappropriate”.
In a statement to the Press and Journal, he said: “I wish to apologise unreservedly for my comments to the Jewish community, and indeed to any person who may have been offended by my remarks.
“Secondly, on a personal basis, I would point out that in my early years in Aberdeen, our family was very friendly with a Jewish family, spending many happy hours in each other’s company, sharing many meals together.
“I also attended a well known Aberdeen school with their son, with whom I had a very close friendship. Sadly many years later he died in as a result of a tragic accident.
“Finally I would not wish to see any business close down in Inverness with the resultant job losses causing family hardship.”
Tesco has four stores in the Highlands capital. The most recent addition was a small supermarket on Dores Road, which was fiercely opposed by residents, however, there are fears that it could be closed because of the grocery giant’s recent announcement that it was shutting 43 premises across the UK and backing out of new stores at Aviemore and Fort William.