A columnist has left a daily newspaper after 22 years following an “offensive” tweet even though an investigation concluded there was no “racist intent” in what he wrote.

Glasgow-based daily The Herald has announced Iain Macwhirter’s last column will be published in the forthcoming edition of The Herald on Sunday following an investigation.

Iain, pictured, was suspended by The Herald last month after he described ethnic minority MPs promoted by new Prime Minister Liz Truss as “the coconut cabinet” in a Twitter thread about the fact that none of the great offices of state are held by white men.

He apologised for use of the derogatory term, which implies that people of colour are white on the inside.

Iain’s departure was revealed in a statement published by The Herald on its official Twitter account.

It said: “After concluding our investigation, we are satisfied that there was no racist intent in what was still an offensive and unacceptable tweet by our freelance contributor Iain Macwhirter.

“Iain has been an exceptional long-serving political commentator for The Herald over 22 years, regularly shaping and leading the news agenda in Scotland through authoritative and insightful comment and analysis.

“He has written thoughtfully on race and other sensitive issues over the decades he has been with us, and these pieces have always met our editorial standards and have been well received by our readers.

“After holding discussions, we have mutually agreed that Iain will leave The Herald to pursue other opportunities, and his final column will appear in this weekend’s Herald on Sunday.

“He goes with our best wishes, and we want to put down our sincere thanks to him for the body of work he has achieved with the newspaper.”

Following a backlash on Twitter, Iain had deleted the tweet.

In a subsequent apology, he said: “Earlier, I made an ironic reference to a term used by some on the left about black people who are deemed traitors to the cause through joining the Tory Party.

“After I posted it, I realised this joke might give offence and deleted it. It was unacceptable language, wide open to misinterpretation, and I am sincerely sorry for the distress I have caused.

“I have repeatedly applauded the Conservatives for having the most diverse cabinet in British history. Indeed, I tweeted earlier that the Truss cabinet made the Scottish government look ‘hideously white’.

“I have always championed racial diversity in my columns and I am dismayed that my cack-handed attempt at humour suggested otherwise.”