CLAIMS a former Labour council group leader made racist remarks to a high-profile MSP have been thrown out by the party following an investigation.
Davie McLachlan, who had been leader of the Labour group on South Lanarkshire Council, previously “categorically denied” making the comments to Anas Sarwar.
The row broke out after Mr Sarwar, who was then a Scottish Labour leadership candidate, alleged a councillor had told him "Scotland wouldn't vote for a brown Muslim Paki".
He did not initially name the councillor but later met with party bosses and provided them with further details.
The case against Mr McLachlan has now been dismissed at a meeting of Labour’s National Constitutional Committee (NCC) in Glasgow.
Mr McLachlan, who was suspended by the party after the allegations emerged, said he had been "vindicated".
He added: "This has been a tremendously difficult time for my family and me and I’m delighted the NCC hearing panel has come to this conclusion.
"However, it has been a long and difficult process and I don’t think my family and I will ever get over the stress this has brought to all of us.
"My reputation and character have been badly maligned by the false accusations that were made against me, but there is some consolation for me in the fact that there are many, many people who know for sure that I never have, and never would, harbour racist views.
"I have been a Labour Party member for 35 years and a councillor for 24 years, and I now look forward to representing my constituents again as their Labour councillor."
Mr Sarwar said he was disappointed with the outcome. He said: "I have consistently said that this isn’t about one individual.
"This is about challenging a wider culture and we have made great strides in the campaign against Islamophobia.
"Just this week we had Scotland’s political parties adopt a working definition of Islamophobia.
"I’m disappointed with the process and outcome and will have more to say about it, but I want to give a considered response rather than one made in haste today.”
A Labour spokesman said it “takes all complaints extremely seriously, which are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken".
A spokesman for Richard Leonard said: “Richard has said for some time now that he has concerns about the disciplinary process, how properly resourced it is, and whether it delivers fairness to both sides.”
Labour’s NCC is a autonomous, quasi-judicial body which is entirely independent of the party leadership.
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