RICHARD Leonard has been accused of a “complete lack of leadership” after saying he didn’t want to help fix an “entirely unsatisfactory” Islamophobia probe.
The Scottish Labour leader was criticised after admitting UK Labour was taking too long to resolve a case involving a Scottish councillor, while refusing to get involved himself.
Dumfries & Galloway councillor Jim Dempster was suspended in March 2018 after making an Islamophobic comment about then SNP transport minister Humza Yousaf.
Cllr Dempster had referred to Mr Yousaf being invisible “under his burka”.
READ MORE: Richard Leonard: Labour struggling with tide of bigotry complaints
Mr Leonard said at the time Cllr Dempster had “unreservedly apologised” for the hurt and offence caused, and there would be “an inquiry and a due process will be followed”.
However, more than 20 months later, Labour has still to conclude that inquiry.
Asked on BBC Radio Scotland if the matter was still being investigated, Mr Leonard replied: “Yes. It’s a matter that rests with the Labour party’s National constitutional committee”.
Asked why it was taking so long, he said: “Look, I recognise the frustration [of Mr Yousaf]. I’m not directly involved in processing complaints about members.”
Asked if he ought to be involved, he said: “No, I don’t think I should be. I think it’s right there’s a separation between the political leadership of the party and political representatives of the party and those people who are directly elected to carry out those investigations.”
After saying he didn’t know why the case was taking so long, Mr Leonard admitted: “There ought to be a more streamlined process. It ought to have been dealt with more quickly.
“In my view it is entirely unsatisfactory.”
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Mr Yousaf, now the SNP Justice Secretary, said: “This case has dragged on for far too long and now needs urgent attention. More than 20 months on from the incident we are no further forward - Richard Leonard should be deeply ashamed.
“Jim Dempster should have been booted out of the Labour party the moment he admitted making these bigoted remarks. But instead the Labour leader continues to dither on the matter, citing internal processes as an excuse for his complete lack of leadership.
“The Labour party can’t continue to turn a blind eye to outright racism from its own elected representatives.
“If Richard Leonard wants to be seen as anything approaching a credible politician then it’s time he faced up to this issue and took action to expel this Islamophobic councillor for good.”
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