Labour chief’s burka slur on SNP minister
Party suspend race row councillor as Yousaf tells of his shock and anger
A LABOUR councillor is at the centre of a race row after saying you can’t see Transport Minister Humza Yousaf “under the burka”.
Jim Dempster was suspended from the party over the comment made to stunned government officials. Yousaf said he was “utterly shocked”.
A LABOUR councillor was suspended yesterday after claiming in a meeting that you can’t see Transport Minister Humza Yousaf “under the burka”. Jim Dempster made the hate-filled comment to shocked Government officials. The Dumfries and Galloway councillor told them that if Yousaf ever visited the region: “No one would have seen him under the burka.” Horrified Transport Scotland officials – who were meeting Dempster to discuss roads – subsequently lodged an official complaint with the council. And Yousaf was so livid when told of the incident he wrote to Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard demanding action. The SNP MSP told the Record: “This Islamophobic outburst from Dempster is utterly outrageous and indefensible. I am not only upset but deeply angered.
“This kind of Islamophobic slur wouldn’t be out of place at a BNP rally. The fact a Scottish Labour politician has made it has left me utterly shocked.
“I have written to Richard Leonard demanding he takes serious and credible action. If he is found guilty of these remarks – which I’m certain he is – then he must be permanently expelled from Scottish Labour.
“Richard Leonard has recently said he has zero tolerance for Islamophobia. Now is the time for deeds not words.”
Dempster – who is listed as a mason in his council register of interests and chairs the council’s planning committee – last night confirmed the incident to the Record.
He said he had apologised for the comment and asked council officials to send him on diversity training.
He was also suspended by Labour last night after party bosses were made aware of the allegation. A spokesman said: “James Dempster has been suspended pending an
investigation by the Scottish Labour Party. The Party has a zero tolerance policy towards racism.”
However, Yousaf demanded Dempster “do the honourable thing” and resign as a councillor.
He said: “As elected members, we are rightly held up to the highest standards.
“Using hate speech of any kind in such a deliberate and malicious way is simply not acceptable and makes Councillor Dempster’s position untenable.
“The fact he was able to make such hate-filled remarks in a meeting with Government officials with members of the public present shows how emboldened those with Islamophobic views are.
“Islamophobes and racists will never silence me and I’ll challenge them at every possible opportunity. Collectively, we all have a duty to root out hatred wherever we see it and from whoever espouses it.”
The two Transport Scotland officials were meeting with Dempster and a local resident to discuss the condition of the A76.
The complaint, seen by the Record, reveals: “Councillor Dempster was stating his opinion that the Minister for Transport and the Islands, Humza Yousaf MSP, did not give much regard to road transport issues in the south-west.
“He felt that the minister had been largely anonymous in his presence in the south-west. In response to this [a Government official] advised Councillor Dempster that the minister had attended the South West Transport Conference and had met residents on site at Springholm.
“In response to the statement about Springholm, Councillor Dempster said, ‘He may have been at Springholm but no one would have seen him under his burka.’ This last statement attributed to Councillor Dempster is considered to be inappropriate for an elected official in any public form.”
When the Record confronted Dempster about the comment yesterday he would only say: “I have heard about the complaint and I have offered an apology to the Transport Minister.
“I have also asked council officers to organise diversity training for me. I have no further comment to make.”
The burka is a traditional dress covering the full face and body. It is worn by a small minority of Muslim women.
The row erupted amid increasing concern about Islamophobia in Scotland.
Yousaf last month revealed racist threats had left him so “worried” about his safety that he carries a personal attack alarm.
He has also beefed up security at his house and his constituency office and no longer conducts surgeries alone.
This Islamophobic outburst is outrageous and indefensible HUMZA YOUSAF