Suspended Labour councillor quits party over race row

A suspended Scottish Labour councillor has resigned her party membership following what she called a "character assassination".

Glasgow councillor Audrey Dempsey was suspended from the party this week after being accused of making racist remarks.

She had claimed that "racist attacks on white children and teachers" had been rising in schools across the city.

Ms Dempsey was suspended from the Scottish Labour party while an investigation took place.

In a statement posted on X, external, formerly known as Twitter, Ms Dempsey said concerns she had raised about the direction of the party and its politics had been "simply ignored".

She said: "Instead the reaction of some has been to attack my character and reputation with cowardly leaks that have deliberately been twisted to fit a narrative.

"I joined the Labour Party as I have a deep desire to fight for working-class communities who need a real champion, I thought they did too. I know see that while I still hold these values close to my heart, the party does not."

The row broke out after Ms Dempsey, who represents the Glasgow ward of Springburn and Robroyston, made a claim that "racist attacks on white children and teachers" had been rising in schools across the city.

Ms Dempsey did not provide statistical evidence for this claim, which was contained in an agenda for a recent meeting of the Labour group.

She previously told BBC Scotland News that she had asked "an honest question". It was not asked at the meeting.

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: "We are not aware of any rise in incidents of this kind across the city."

Ms Dempsey has vowed to continue representing the people of Springburn and Robyston and to "never be silenced on speaking up for my community."

She is now listed as an independent councillor, external.

A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: "Audrey Dempsey is no longer a member of the Labour Party.”

In a separate incident, Labour last week suspended an election candidate after she was accused of liking racist and Islamophobic social media posts.

Wilma Brown, the Westminster candidate for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, appeared to delete her Twitter/X account after local activist Adam Le Grice highlighted the issue.

The party said it takes all complaints seriously.