Deputy leader of Labour faces ethics probe in religion row
SCOTTISH Labour’s deputy leader faces being reported to an ethics watchdog after he accused a long-standing party colleague of “badness” and questioned whether he was still a Christian.
In a series of texts, Alex Rowley claimed John Rowan had been “nasty and vicious” after criticising a party candidate and claimed there is “only one judge at the end of the day”.
Mr Rowan described the messages as “outrageous” and is considering making a complaint about his former friend to the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.
The two senior party figures, who are both Catholics, have known each other for about 20 years and worked for former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Mr Rowley has since become an MSP and is Kezia Dugdale’s deputy, while Mr Rowan, who has been a Labour member since 1972, has retired.
However, the selection of Mary Lockhart as the Labour candidate for a council by-election in Fife, which she won last week, has created a rift.
Ms Lockhart supports Scottish independence, a position Mr Rowan criticised earlier this month on Facebook.
After making his comments on social media, Mr Rowley texted Mr Rowan: “What has happened to you to make you so nasty and vicious towards other human beings? I take it you no longer are a Christian given the badness you openly display towards fellow human beings.”
Mr Rowan replied: “That is outrageous for you to send me a text message like that. Good Christians tell the truth and that is what I am pointing out re Mary Lochart’s (sic) politics and her stance on Independence.”
Continuing the religious theme, the deputy leader replied: “The Lord tells us to treat our neighbours with respect and how we would like them to treat us. If I have nothing positive to say about people I will say nothing about them personally. Stop the badness John ...”
Mr Rowan countered by flagging up Mr Rowley’s public criticism of Labour MP Ian Murray, who quit the shadow cabinet over concerns about Jeremy
Corbyn’s Westminster party leadership.
“What about your personal and public attacks on Ian Murray ... I am not attacking anyone in a personal manner only their double standards and their political stance.
“I am not being bad towards anyone.”
The MSP texted back: “I never attacked Ian Moray (sic) personally... I questioned how the shadow secretary of state could stand down at a time when the country needed him to stand up.”
He added: “But let’s just moved (sic) on, good luck with your life and there is only one judge at the end of the day that we all answer to.”
In another text message, Mr Rowley wrote: “I have been a friend to you over many years... what you have shown me today is you are no friend to me so let that be an end.”
Mr Rowley continued: “I am going to Mass now and will pray for a better world.
“You do whatever you choose to do with your life and best wishes for you.”
Following the exchange, Mr Rowan, 60, told The Herald: “I am considering a complaint to the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland about Alex Rowley’s text messages.”
In a statement, Mr Rowley said: “This was a private and personal discussion I had with John, whom I and my family have known and been friends with over many, many years. So it is disappointing he has made the content of that private discussion public.”