‘Harassment’ probe MSP still in party
Alex Rowley is still free to attend official Labour meetings with the people investigating his alleged harassment of an ex-partner.
The Fife MSP has been suspended from the group at Holyrood but he remains a party member.
This means he can attend branch meetings – where key decisions about his future could be made.
A source said: “It’s double standards. Jeremy Corbyn has suspended his allies at Westminster so why isn’t the Scottish Labour Party doing the same to Alex?
“It’s also troubling because it means he can attend meetings at which his accuser and other people will potentially be in attendance.
“It makes a mockery of the line that we are taking this seriously.”
MPs Jared O’Mara and Kelvin Hopkins have been suspended from the UK Labour Party while investigations take place into their alleged conduct towards women. But a Scottish Labour spokesman confirmed to The Sunday Post that Mr Rowley is still a party member.
He stepped aside as interim leader and deputy leader north of the Border after a former partner told a newspaper that their relationship “felt like emotional blackmail and abuse”.
The woman claimed he made her life “hell with his behaviour”.
Mr Rowley, who had the Labour whip withdrawn in the Scottish Parliament while an investigation takes place, strongly denies the claims.