A PROMINENT Highland Liberal Democrat councillor has resigned from the party after being investigated for sharing "anti-Islamic material" on social media.
Skye councillor Drew Millar shared images and comments from Britain First on Facebook earlier this month, the Highland LibDem council group said.
An investigation was launched and Councillor Millar was asked to stand aside from his position as chairman of the council's community safety, public engagement and equalities committee. The party said he declined to do so during the investigation, but has now resigned from the group and the party.
Councillor Millar said he had forwarded material that had been sent to him. "It was material that was anti-terrorist but was not anti-Islamic. I was most definitely not trying to stir up religious hatred. "
He said he shared pictures of demonstrators holding "banners against freedom of speech", adding: "I don't think it was from Britain First."
He said he refused to stand down during the investigation because he was "innocent until proven guilty".
He added: "I shared things I thought people should be aware of. I was in no way, in my mind, stirring up religious hatred."
A statement from the Highland Liberal Democrat council group said: "In the strongest possible terms, the Liberal Democrat group condemns the dissemination of such material as utterly reprehensible and wholly unacceptable.
"It has no place in our free and tolerant society and any councillor, from any political party, should face swift and appropriate action when found to be in breach of stringent regulations governing the conduct of members."
A new chair of its community safety, public engagement and equalities committee is to be nominated later this month.
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