Perth and Kinross Council's leader and the SNP administration has thrown its "full support" behind a councillor who "deeply regrets" liking a "deeply inappropriate" tweet.
The Conservative group's leader slammed the tweet's image - which showed a blindfolded woman gagged and being held down by a man - as "abhorrent and repulsive".
The SNP today confirmed councillor John Rebbeck - who has since unliked the post and apologised - will retain his role as a senior councillor.
The Perth City North councillor convenes PKC's Learning and Families Committee.
The committee's previous convener Caroline Shiers questioned Cllr Rebbeck's judgement in liking a tweet late on Wednesday, November 23 which showed a blindfolded woman clutching a broken Saltire being gagged and held down by a man with Union Flags on his shirt cuffs. It was posted on Twitter by Staunch Against Foreign Rule alongside the caption: "Today the British State declared its occupation of Scotland."
Conservative councillor Caroline Shiers urged Cllr Rebbeck to unlike and condemn the post.
In an email entitled "Offensive" she wrote to him: "Seriously in a week when we mark the launch of a campaign against violence against women is it okay to 'like' this? I am all for political expression but there are limits."
It came just two days before Perth and Kinross Council took part in the launch of an international campaign to tackle gender-based violence - 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
On Wednesday night Cllr Rebbeck responded by unliking the tweet and messaged Cllr Shiers to apologise.
He wrote: "Whatever the political context, that image IS crass and misogynistic. Genuine apologies."
On Friday, November 25 the Conservative group lodged a complaint with SNP council leader Grant Laing over the issue calling for Cllr Rebbeck's resignation as convener. PKC's chief executive Thomas Glen was copied into the email.
Conservative group leader councillor John Duff said: "My group were aghast that Cllr Rebbeck ‘liked’ such an abhorrent and repulsive image. There can be absolutely no excuse, political or otherwise, for his actions.
"I wrote to the leader of the council, SNP councillor Grant Laing calling upon him to ask for Cllr Rebbeck’s resignation as convener or - if this was not forthcoming - to exercise his leadership and remove him from his post.
"Cllr Laing responded saying that Cllr Rebbeck would post an apology on Twitter and that he would have some internal discussions before deciding what to do."
On Friday afternoon Cllr Rebbeck posted on Twitter: "In the aftermath of the Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday I liked a tweet for its political context. In hindsight the image attached to the tweet was entirely inappropriate and does not reflect my views or my character."
Today Cllr Rebbeck told of his deep regret.
He said: "I liked the tweet for its political context. The attached image was entirely inappropriate and I shouldn’t have liked it. Indeed, I deeply regret it.
"I unreservedly apologise for this and have unliked the tweet. The image does not reflect my character or my views."
Cllr Laing and the SNP group have thrown their full support behind Cllr Rebbeck to remain in post.
Council leader Grant Laing said: "Following the UK Supreme Court decision last week John liked a Tweet for its political message. He accepts that the associated caricature was deeply inappropriate. He deeply regrets liking and has since unliked the Tweet and apologised.
"John has the full support of the SNP group and will be remaining in post. John is - and has been - since his election six years ago a very hardworking and accessible elected member. His dedication to his communities and role within the council should be seen as an example to others on how the role as an elected member should be undertaken."
A PKC spokesperson said: "We note the chief executive was copied into correspondence from Cllr Duff. The membership and convenership of committees is a political matter which council determines.”
