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Jeremy Corbyn defends Labour racism inquiry Jeremy Corbyn defends Labour racism inquiry
(about 7 hours later)
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has defended his party's handling of allegations of racism against a councillor. Jeremy Corbyn has defended Labour's handling of racism allegations against a councillor.
Dumfries and Galloway Councillor Jim Dempster was suspended over claims that he told officials no-one would have seen Scottish government minister Humza Yousaf "under his burka". Jim Dempster is said to have told officials that no-one would have seen Scottish government minister Humza Yousaf "under his burka".
Six months later, key witnesses have not been contacted by Labour. He has now been referred to Labour's National Constitutional Committee after an investigation that started in March.
Mr Yousaf has said he is "furious" that there has still been no action. Mr Corbyn told BBC Scotland that the investigation had been "as quick as it can be".
It is understood that key witnesses including Mr Yousaf were not contacted during the internal Labour investigation as Mr Dempster, a Dumfries and Galloway councillor, admitted making the remark.
'Appropriate action'
Mr Corbyn told BBC Scotland: "What I would make clear is that first of all as a party we don't tolerate racism in any form, I as party leader do not tolerate racism in any form.Mr Corbyn told BBC Scotland: "What I would make clear is that first of all as a party we don't tolerate racism in any form, I as party leader do not tolerate racism in any form.
"It is all investigated as quickly as it can be investigated and appropriate action is taken - there's a range of actions that can be taken by our national executive.""It is all investigated as quickly as it can be investigated and appropriate action is taken - there's a range of actions that can be taken by our national executive."
Pressed on why it has taken six months to contact key witnesses, Mr Corbyn insisted the matter would be taken seriously. He added: "The issues that face us all are the need to be united and not allow racism to fester any more than we would allow the far-right to rise anywhere across this country."
He added: "Listen, the case is being dealt with and it will be dealt with because we do not tolerate racism in any form in our society. A Scottish Labour spokesman insisted that the party takes any allegations of racism "extremely seriously".
"The issues that face us all are the need to be united and not allow racism to fester any more than we would allow the far-right to rise anywhere across this country." He added: "All complaints about Islamophobia are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken."
BBC Scotland has launched a new podcast exploring the big political issues of the week at Holyrood and Westminster. The first episode of Podlitical is available now - with analysis of the Jeremy Corbyn interview. You can download it and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. But a party source told BBC Scotland that it "needs to take a look at why the disciplinary process takes so long, because it isn't fair for victims.
Allegations first emerged in March that Mr Dempster had made the comments in a meeting with officials from Transport Scotland. "The party can't just talk about having a zero tolerance approach to racism, it must practice it as well."
He is said to have told them no-one would notice work by then transport minister Humza Yousaf - because no-one would have seen him under his burka. But Mr Yousaf hit out on Twitter, saying six months had now passed since Mr Dempster was suspended from Labour after he "admitted Islamophobia".
He was suspended by the party and has apologised to Mr Yousaf, saying he was ashamed and embarrassed and could offer no defence or explanation. The justice secretary said: "He should have been expelled. What have Labour done in six months? Zero, zilch, nada.
Mr Yousaf, who is now the country's justice secretary, said he was frustrated by the lack of progress in Labour's inquiry. "Let's call Corbyn out - he is utterly duplicitous when it comes to tackling racism in his own party.
He said: "I wrote to Jeremy Corbyn, got a response from some assistant of his, to tell me there would be a investigation concluded by July. We're of course now into September. "He says many warm words then fails miserably to follow it up with any action. He is a hypocrite and has been exposed as one time and time again."
"I've never been asked for my witness statement, certainly I know those in Transport Scotland have told me they hadn't been contacted by the Labour Party and other witnesses who made other accusations against Jim Dempster also tell me they've not been contacted. Allegations first emerged in March that Mr Dempster had made the comments about Mr Yousaf in a meeting with officials from Transport Scotland.
"So this is deeply disappointing to say the least." He is said to have told them no-one would have noticed Mr Yousaf because no-one would have seen him under his burka.
Mr Yousaf added: "Let me be frank, when it come to Jeremy Corbyn and racism he is utterly duplicitous. He says one thing and warm words, and then his actions simply do not match the rhetoric whatsoever. He was suspended by the party and subsequently apologised to Mr Yousaf, saying he was ashamed and embarrassed and could offer no defence or explanation.
"Whether that is on anti-Semitism within his party which has plagued his party and continues to plague his party - or indeed whether it's dealing with Islamophobia - I have no confidence whatsoever frankly in the Labour Party's ability to deal with this."