A Renfrewshire councillor has been urged to resign over comments made online about the Jewish community.

Former MP Jim Sheridan has been suspended by the Labour party over a social media post he was allegedly responsible for, which spoke of his loss of "respect and empathy" for the community amid the row about anti-Semitism.

The suspension of the former Paisley and Renfrewshire North MP is understood to have happened after a complaint was received.

Iain Nicolson, leader of Renfrewshire Council, has called on Councillor Sheridan to stand down as an elected member.

The SNP man told The Gazette: “When I first saw the comments I couldn’t believe what he was saying. To smear an entire community, both past and present, to say he has lost ‘all empathy’ for them is utterly deplorable.

"This has cast a dark shadow over everyone who works hard to make Renfrewshire a great place to live and work. We are an inclusive community and we distance ourselves completely from his comments.

"I welcome the Labour party’s swift action on this and would urge Councillor Sheridan to resign from the council. I fail to see how he can fulfil his oath to ‘represent all his constituents ‘regardless of their religious and political beliefs’.

"Councillor Sheridan’s thinking clearly belong in the Dark Ages.”

The Gazette:

Iain Nicolson 

Labour did not comment on the individual case but said all complaints of anti-Semitism are fully investigated by the party.

A spokesman added: "The Labour Party takes all complaints of anti-Semitism extremely seriously and we are committed to challenging and campaigning against it in all its forms.

"All complaints about anti-Semitism are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken."

East Renfrewshire MP Paul Masterton, who represents the Scottish Conservatives, described the online comments as "appalling" and said they show "just how deeply the problem of anti-Semitism runs in elements of the Labour Party".