Aberdeen SNP councillor breached ethics code of conduct after referring to colleague as a 'new Scot'

An Aberdeen councillor has been found to have breached the code of conduct after referring to a fellow councillor as a “new Scot”.

Kairin van Sweeden apologised for the remark made towards Labour colleague Deena Tissera at a meeting of Aberdeen City Council on October 11, 2023.

Van Sweeden suspended her membership and referred herself to the Ethical Standards Commissioner as the investigation took place.

The investigation found that the remark was used in a derogatory manner, aimed at disparaging councillor Tissera and belittling her position as a British citizen of Sri Lankan descent.

Cllr Tissera stated: “This comment not only undermined my professional competence based on my place of birth, but also suggested I am less Scottish than my peers, making me feel inferior because of my race.

“No one should ever feel this way in their workplace.”

She added: “It is crucial that we address racism in all its forms because it has no place in our politics or our workplaces. We must foster an environment of respect and equality.”

The remark came during a debate on austerity, with van Sweeden saying: “I realise, as a new Scot, councillor Tissera maybe doesn’t know about the mitigation that the SNP Government has had to put in over the years they have been in power.”

The SNP councillor later apologised in the chamber following objections by other councillors. She later said: “I unreservedly apologise for the clumsy language I used in the chamber and the offence it caused.

“It could not be further from the values I hold.”

The then first minister Humza Yousaf, in response to a letter by Cllr Tissera said last year: “It was unacceptable. I saw the comment this morning. It’s unacceptable and the councillor is right to apologise.

“In fact, I also want to apologise to councillor Tissera who was on the receiving end of that comment.

“There will now be a process around a potential disciplinary. I’ll not interfere in that process.”

Referencing Van Sweeden’s apology, he said: “It wasn’t just clumsy.

“It speaks to the unconscious bias and discrimination that people hold and we all have to challenge ourselves – we all have it – but we have to challenge ourselves about it.

“But there’s just no kind of place for that language. I saw the comments and I was thoroughly disappointed.”

The Commissioner’s report issued has now been referred to the Standards Commission for Scotland.

Councillor Van Sweeden declined to comment until the process is complete.