A race row councillor has quit Labour four years after he was suspended for making an Islamophobic comment against SNP minister Humza Yousaf.
Jim Dempster resigned his membership this week after the party’s national executive committee brought charges against him alleging he is “a racist”.
Mr Dempster this week announced that he will now stand as an independent councillor in the local elections in May and said: “I will leave it to the electorate to decide whether I am a fit and proper person to continue to represent them.”
And the Upper Nithsdale councillor, who was a member of the Labour Party for 22 years, insisted: “I am not a racist.”
Mr Dempster was suspended in 2018 after making “offensive and terrible” comments about then transport minister Humza Yousaf.
He told transport officials at a meeting that “no one would have seen [Yousaf] under his burqa”.
Mr Yousaf immediately called on Labour to expel Mr Dempster from the party and said: “I am angrier than I’ve ever been about abuse of this nature, and I’ve not been able to shake it off.
“The case is cut and dried and Jim Dempster has admitted to his Islamophobic outburst towards me.
“He should be kicked out of the Labour Party for good.”
Mr Dempster this week announced his decision to quit the party after he was told he would be facing disciplinary action.
He issued a statement which said: “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.
“I am not a racist.”
He added: “The timing of the proceedings against me, with the local election imminent, conflict with my desire to continue as a councillor.
“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.”
Mr Yousaf was not available for comment last Thursday.
A Scottish Labour Party spokesman confirmed Mr Dempster had resigned but added: “The Labour Party cannot comment on the content of its disciplinary processes.”
