Sadiq Khan has rewritten a speech to clarify that Scottish nationalists are not racist after he suggested there was "no difference" between Scottish nationalism and dividing people by their race or religion.
Ahead the London mayor's appearance at the Scottish Labour conference in Perth on Saturday morning, Khan tweeted his intended speech, in which he made the original remarks about Scottish nationalism and racism.
It provoked a furious reaction from the Scottish National Party, with first minister Nicola Sturgeon and several SNP MPs tweeting their condemnation of Khan's remarks.
Khan's initial speech read: "There’s no difference between those who try to divide us on the basis of whether we’re English or Scottish and those who try to divide us on the basis of our background, race or religion."
What I'll be saying to @scottishlabour today. #ScotLab17
However, in a hasty redraft of the speech delivered after the backlash, he added: "Now, of course I'm not saying that nationalists are somehow racist or bigoted. But now, more than ever, what we don't need is more division and separation."
Sturgeon reacted furiously to the initial speech in a series of tweets, describing it as "spectacularly ill-judged" and a sign of "sheer desperation".
1/3 I'm a big admirer of @SadiqKhan but today's intervention is spectacularly ill-judged...
2/3 it is an insult to all those Scots who support independence for reasons of inclusion & social justice - the antithesis of what he says
3/3 and it is a sign of the sheer desperation and moral bankruptcy that has driven so many from Scottish Labour's ranks. Very disappointing.
Several SNP MPs joined in the condemnation of Khan's remarks, and the London mayor avoided questions from journalists on his entry to Perth Concert hall on whether he thought the SNP is a racist party.
Disgusting comments from @SadiqKhan - he must apologise Scottish nationalism the same as racism, says Sadiq Khan https://t.co/3ASADpjRoW
I know @SadiqKhan and know he knows better - but so did Corbyn when he came to Scotland - Qu is someone in SLab scr… https://t.co/DHgkw1qt1U
Labour's view seems to be that every independence or self determination movement that ever was or ever will be must be inherently racist.
Khan introduced Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale ahead of her speech to the conference on Saturday afternoon where she will argue for the creation of a federal future for the UK with more powers for the Scottish parliament.
The London mayor went on to argue that people in Scotland and London need to fight for their "shared progressive values" in order to "turn back the tide" of nationalist and right-wing populist parties.
"That is the message I’m taking to the Scottish Labour party conference today – that now is the time to build unity, create a more United Kingdom, and ensure everyone has the opportunities they need to succeed," Khan said.
Saturday morning at the conference saw a speech from deputy leader of UK Labour Tom Watson, who threw his support behind Dugdale's proposal for a new federal structure for the UK.
Watson argued that Scotland shouldn't "tie its hands to the SNP" but should instead stay inside the UK with more power devolved from Brussels and Westminster to the UK's nations and regions.
Watson went on to express his "huge disappointment" at Labour's defeat in the Copeland by-election, saying the leadership's message was not working and that "things have to change".
"All of us with leadership roles in the Labour party need to have a long, hard look at ourselves and what's not working," said Watson.
"Seven years into a Tory government, we shouldn't be facing questions about whether we can retain the seats we already hold."
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will address the conference on Sunday.