Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson should make an "unreserved apology" after her party appeared to question the participation of European Union (EU) citizens in Scottish politics, the First Minister has claimed.

Nicola Sturgeon said Ms Davidson's "casual dismissal" of a Tory press office statement about French-born former SNP MSP Christian Allard would lead people to question the character of her party and undermine efforts to reassure EU citizens.

Mr Allard had reported Tory MSP Alexander Burnett to the Standards Commissioner for failing to disclose his business interests when raising objections against a rival property developer in the Scottish Parliament.

The Tory press office responded with a statement which said: "Some people may find it bizarre that an EU citizen has an interest in a planning application in Banchory.

Glasgow Times:

"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."

Mr Allard lives near Banchory in Aberdeenshire and represented the North East Scotland region until earlier this year.

Speaking at First Minister's Questions at Holyrood, Ms Sturgeon said: "The remarks that were made about Christian Allard from Ruth Davidson's office suggesting that an EU citizen, even though they live here and contribute here, doesn't deserve a say about the community they live in, I think, are unacceptable.

"In the current climate political leaders do have a responsibility to help set the tone.

"We heard this week that the Home Secretary has had to assure the Polish government that they were taking seriously the concerns about hate crimes committed towards Polish citizens in the UK.

"How much are these efforts undermined when the leader of the Conservatives in Scotland so casually dismisses what are completely unacceptable remarks about EU citizens?

"I think if another day passes when Ruth Davidson fails to offer a full retraction and an unreserved apology for the remarks made from her own office then the people of Scotland will be rightly entitled to question the character of the Conservative Party."

In an email to Aberdeenshire East SNP MSP Gillian Martin, the Tories' director of communications Eddie Barnes conceded the statement on Mr Allard had been "open to interpretation" and "could have been worded more clearly".

He asked for his apologies to be passed on if any offence was caused. Ms Davidson told STV News she "backed up" Mr Barnes's email.