Labour prides itself on standing up for equality and tackling prejudice.
But the response to Anas Sarwar’s complaint of alleged Islamophobia shakes that to breaking point.
At the heart of this woeful episode was the accusation a racist comment had been made by a serving councillor.
A fully-functioning party would have dealt with this quickly and transparently.
More than a year later, Sarwar was given four days notice that a hearing was being convened. When he got there, he was told he had failed to give his own two weeks notice to speak. What a farce.
The councillor, Davie McLachlan, was cleared of the accusation. He condemned the difficult year he’s experienced and now wants to get on with his job.
Anas Sarwar slams Labour race row hearing after MSP barred from giving evidence
But the ridiculous way the disciplinary hearing was held overshadows events.
Even Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard admits Sarwar needs a full explanation.
Leonard, 24 hours after the decision, offered his full support and said the independent National Constitutional Committee must be improved. Those comments should have been made far earlier.
Labour adopted a working definition of Islamophobia and calls on the Conservatives to do the same. It looks like window dressing if an MSP who claimed to have been a victim of abuse isn’t even allowed to speak at hearings.
UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has presided over a shocking fall in confidence that the party can live up to its ideals on tackling hatred, not least amid the persistent complaints of anti-Semitism.
Leonard should step out from his shadow or risk damaging his party’s credibility even further.
Health and wealth
Ending period poverty about changing attitudes as well as the law, urges MSP spearheading campaign
Inequality goes hand in hand with poor health.
New figures show again how this grim link continues to put people in deprived communities at greater risk.
Cancer diagnoses are increasing, partly because people live longer – but those in poorer areas are more likely to get the disease. Healthy living campaigns and appeals for people to stop smoking are not enough on their own.
Scotland needs to stub out persistent inequality between rich and poor to make a real difference.
Father’s day
Nurse devastated to be told she has cervical and breast cancer two weeks apart
It’s every dad’s job to walk their daughter down the aisle.
But, after discovering he had terminal cancer, James Cassidy accepted he’d have to miss out until a massive family effort saw daughter Emma’s wedding organised in just 10 weeks.
Now he’ll be by her side each step of the way on an extra-special day.
