A councillor who made Islamophobic comments about Health Secretary Humza Yousaf has been re-elected.
Jim Dempster was returned as an independent in Dumfries and Galloway after quitting Labour just as the party was poised to take action against him.
The Record revealed in 2018 that Dempster had made appalling comments about Yousaf at a transport meeting.
A note showed Government officials challenged his claim that the SNP 's Yousaf, at that point the transport minister, did not have much regard for the south-west.
Dempster responded: “He may have been at Springholm but no one would have seen him under his burka.”
He apologised for the slur and was suspended by Labour, but the party investigation dragged on for years.
Dempster quit Labour on the eve of May’s council elections to stand as an independent.
He said at the time: “After almost four years since the suspension of my membership of the Labour Party, the National Executive Committee (NEC) have brought charges against me, basically alleging that I am a racist.
"I have admitted making an ill devised attempt at humour against Humza Yousaf but deny the other charges against me.
"A challenge to the charges would not allow me to stand for election as a Labour Party candidate, although I have the backing of the local party.
"I have therefore, with great sadness, resigned my membership of the Labour Party which I served diligently for 22 years. I will stand for election as an independent."
Dempster was elected last week in the Mid and Upper Nithsdale ward after the first round of voting.
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