SCOTTISH Labour has lifted the suspension imposed on a Glasgow councillor after he pursued legal action against the party over the ban.
Sohan Singh, who has been out in the cold for three years, was back in the Labour group in the city as of last week.
Singh was elected in 2012 to serve the North East ward, but was suspended around a year later over allegations relating to his business and licensing.
Separately, he was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice over an alleged incident involving a woman’s immigration status and a Hindu priest.
However, Singh denied the charges and he was found not guilty last year by a sheriff.
Despite his legal victory, Scottish Labour did not lift his suspension, which has been in place for most of this local government term.
The curb meant Singh could not seek re-election on a Labour ticket next year, which forced him to exercise his legal options.
Councillor Alistair Watson, Labour’s business manager on the council, emailed colleagues on Friday afternoon: “I write to advise you that the Labour Party have lifted the suspension of Sohan Singh and he is now readmitted to the Labour Group.”
A Labour source said: “Sohan has been treated badly. It has dragged on.”
Singh can now be considered as a potential candidate at next year’s local government election.
His readmission also shores up the party’s wafer-thin majority on the council and gives Labour breathing room. Before the suspension was lifted, Labour had 39 councillors and the opposition accounted for 38.
Another councillor elected for Labour in 2012, Yvonne Kucuk, is currently suspended.
Although Labour has a majority on paper, sources fear some councillors dissatisfied with leader Frank McAveety’s administration may stay away from key meetings, making the outcome of votes unpredictable.
A spokesman for Scottish Labour said: “We can confirm the suspension has been lifted following proper procedures, with the situation only being considered following the conclusion of legal proceedings.”
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