Labour ex-leader suspended over claims of abuse

SCOTTISH Labour’s stand-in leader was last night suspended from the party while an investigation is conducted into allegations that he bombarded his former partner with abusive messages during a three-year harassment campaign.

Alex Rowley said he “totally” rejected the accusations and would “take all necessary steps to clear my name” and that he would step aside as both interim and deputy leader.

But Scottish Labour later went further by withdrawing the party whip from him in the Scottish Parliament “in light of the serious nature of the allegations”. The move followed calls from Kezia Dugdale, the former leader, and the two candidates trying to succeed her for Mr Rowley to be suspended.

It was prompted by complaints from a former girlfriend, 49, that Mr Rowley had “destroyed” her life and she was the “shadow of the woman I once was”.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, told a tabloid newspaper that Mr Rowley was a “ruthless bully” who had become “obsessed” with her.