LAWYERS acting for an aspiring Scottish Labour candidate who was described as “untruthful” by a judge have issued a legal warning to a left-wing website.
Asim Khan’s legal advisers are believed to have claimed that material published by The Red Robin website is defamatory and could lead to a damages claim of £50,000.
A spokesman for The Red Robin said: “We have been advised by our solicitors not to comment at this time.”
The internal contest to select a Labour candidate for the Westminster seat of Glasgow South West has been marred by a row over one of the candidate’s past.
Khan, a solicitor, used to be chair of the now-dissolved Roshni charity, which was on the receiving end of a critical tribunal judgment in 2016. A judge ruled that Roshni and founder Ali Khan should jointly pay a female £75,000 after she was the victim of harassment and victimisation at the charity.
Although Asim Khan was not the subject of the tribunal, he was described as a “untruthful” and “evasive” in the judgment. After the judge’s words came to light, female Scottish Labour activists signed a letter about Khan. The letter was published last week by The Red Robin, which was founded recently to “create a distinctive left voice in Scotland”.
However, it is understood Khan’s lawyers claimed the article contained defamatory comments, adding that legal proceedings could be raised. The article was pulled down within hours.
Separately, it was reported last week that an office-bearer in Labour’s local party in Pollok had complained about Khan’s alleged failure to tell the party about the employment tribunal judgement.
As reported by The Herald, Alison Campbell Glass wrote to general secretary Brian Roy: “I would ask that you immediately investigate both Asim Khan’s non-disclosure and his actions in this case, with a view to determining whether he is a fit and proper person to be a Labour candidate.”
She raised the judge’s comments, adding: “The complete quotes, and others that may be in the full record of this case, would be absolutely devastating if used in leaflets and other media by our political opponents.”
Bob Thomson, a Scottish Labour member for over 50 years, said: “The tribunal judgment is a matter of concern and should be investigated by Scottish Labour. At the same time, Asim Khan should have the opportunity to state his position.”
Khan did not provide a comment.
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