Labour Councillor suspended after Islamaphobic comment
Jim Dempster admitted making a joke about Humza Yousaf hiding under a burka
Scottish Labour has suspended Dumfries and Galloway Councillor Jim Dempster he after admitted to telling an Islamaphobic joke at a meeting with transport officials.
Councillor Dempster reportedly said that no one would have seen Mr Yousaf, "under his burka.”
Humza Yousaf (pictured) said the “Islamophobic outburst” was “utterly outrageous” and has called for Mr Dempster to be expelled from the Party.
The racist comment was reported by a senior Transport Scotland official, who then raised a formal complaint with Dumfries and Galloway Council.
The councillor has apologised to Mr Yousaf, saying he was embarrassed and could offer no defence or explanation.
Mr Yousaf said he was upset and deeply angered by the comment, and had asked Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard to take, “serious and credible action,” on the issue.
A spokesman for the Scottish Labour Party said, “James Dempster has been suspended pending an investigation…the party has a zero tolerance policy towards racism.”
The Transport Minister has piled the pressure on Jim Dempster to resign, writing on Twitter, "I appreciate Richard Leonard contacting me to tell me Dempster has been suspended pending an investigation. However it should be a pretty short investigation as he had admitted making the remarks. Only expulsion from Scottish Labour will do."
Last night Mr Yousaf added, “As elected members we are rightly held up to the highest standards. Using hate speech of any kind in such a deliberate and malicious way is simply not acceptable and makes his position untenable.”
The Transport Minister took to Twitter last night to express his anger, writing, "Outraged. Hurt. But defiant."
"He and others may think they can get away with their casual racism, Islamaphobia and hatred. They can't. For every racist out there know that your time is up. #HopeNotHate"
It's not the first time a Labour politician has been embroiled in a racism scandal in recent weeks.
Last month MSP Hugh Gaffney apologised for making offensive comments during a Burns Scandal prompting Scottish leader Richard Leonard to pledge to stamp out intolerance in the party.