A HIGH-PROFILE Labour MSP has launched a damning attack on his party’s complaints process after a racism allegation he made against a councillor was thrown out.
Anas Sarwar, a former Scottish deputy leader, said he was “deeply hurt and demoralised” and “left with the sad impression that Islamophobia is one of the last acceptable forms of prejudice”.
He said he was barred from giving evidence during a hearing earlier this week.
It came after Mr Sarwar, who was then a Scottish leadership candidate, alleged last year that Councillor Davie McLachlan had told him "Scotland wouldn't vote for a brown, Muslim Paki".
READ MORE: Claims Labour councillor made racist remarks to Anas Sarwar MSP thrown out by party
He did not initially name the councillor but later met with party bosses and provided them with further details after they “insisted” he be identified so action could be taken.
Mr McLachlan, who had been leader of the Labour group on South Lanarkshire Council and was suspended following the allegations, categorically denied making the comments to Mr Sarwar.
On Monday, the case against him was dismissed at a meeting of Labour’s National Constitutional Committee (NCC) in Glasgow. He said he had been “vindicated”.
However, Mr Sarwar has now condemned the disciplinary process – insisting he was only called as a witness four days before the hearing, and then barred from giving evidence because he had not given two weeks’ notice.
In a lengthy statement, he said: “After 15 months of little or no communication or updates, I was notified by the Labour Party late in the afternoon last Thursday that the NCC hearing would be on Monday, April 29, at 11am – just four days later. I was asked if I could make myself available as a witness.
“I emailed back expressing my disappointment at the short notice and asking a number of questions about the process. I got a response back at 8.30am on Monday morning and all the relevant paperwork sent to me just before 9am for a hearing that was due to start at 11am.
“When I arrived at the hearing I was informed by an NCC representative that I could not give evidence as I had not given the committee two weeks’ notice of my intention to appear as a witness. I was asked to leave and was unable to provide any evidence. The UK Labour NCC panel subsequently ruled that there was no case to answer without any verbal evidence being taken.”
READ MORE: Claims Labour councillor made racist remarks to Anas Sarwar MSP thrown out by party
Mr Sarwar said it was clear Labour’s disciplinary process is “deeply flawed and not fit for purpose”.
He added: “If even I, as a former deputy leader, interim leader, leadership candidate and [Scottish] shadow cabinet member, don’t believe I can get a fair hearing or adequate support from an institution like the Labour Party, then I am left wondering what chance those experiencing discrimination in other walks of life have.”
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said Mr Sarwar’s complaints “deserve to be treated seriously and he is entitled to a full explanation”.
He added: “I have said for some time now that we need to ensure these kind of cases are dealt with more efficiently and more quickly, while maintaining a fair, transparent and rigorous system.
“We have doubled the size of the National Constitutional Committee, the independent body which hears these cases, but clearly more still needs to be done.
“Anas has my full support for his campaign to root out racism and Islamophobia in our society.”
A Labour Party spokesman said it “takes all complaints extremely seriously”.
It is understood evidence from both sides was placed before the NCC – which is independent of the party leadership – for consideration, including verbal evidence presented in writing. The respondent is required to attend the hearing, but there is no automatic requirement for others to attend as witnesses.
Mr McLachlan previously said it has been a “tremendously difficult time for my family and me”,.
He said his character had been "badly maligned by the false accusations that were made against me".
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