SCANDAL-hit Labour will be “at the forefront of the drive for equality”, Richard Leonard will tell party members today.

At the party’s Women’s Conference in Glasgow, Leonard will tell delegates his team will lead efforts to rid Scotland of sexism, racism and other forms of discrimination.

The speech comes in the wake of sexual harassment accusations at Holyrood, with MSP Monica Lennon claiming she was “groped” by a senior male colleague, who has not been named.

It also follows criticism of Leonard’s decision not to suspend Hugh Gaffney for remarks the MP admitted were “deeply offensive and unacceptable” remarks against Chinese and LGBT people earlier this month.

That controversy erupted after Leonard’s former leadership rival Anas Sarwar spoke out about the discrimination he had faced from within the party, something which prompted him to launch a bid to tackle “everyday racism and Islamophobia” across the country.

Scottish Labour has announced plans to set-up a special sub-committee of its executive to develop an anti-discrimination and harassment policy.

Leonard will tell the conference: “Over the past few months the culture of politics, particularly in relation to gender equality, has rightly come under the spotlight.

“Politicians, including some in the Labour Party, have been found to engage in behaviour, that falls well below the standards we in this room, and in this party and in this movement, expect and deserve.

“There has, once again, been a breakdown of trust between politicians and those they hope to serve. So my job, our job is to work to rebuild that trust.

“We will work to ensure women across Scotland know that the Labour Party stands up for them.

“Scottish Labour, under my leadership, will be at the forefront of the drive for equality.”

He will add: “From the interim staff appointments I have made, to the interim deputy leadership, from the appointments to the Parliament’s bodies to the 50:50 shadow cabinet, I want to change the culture of the Labour Party and women’s place in it – at all levels.

“That action comes from the one driving principle – that there is no place for any form of discrimination in the Labour Party, be it sexism, be it homophobia, be it racism, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.”

The speech will follow the revelation yesterday that disgraced ex-Childcare Minister Mark McDonald received a “golden goodbye” payment of almost £7300 after quitting his portfolio over sexual misconduct.

MSPs have now called for a rethink of rules that see politicians gain an automatic “resettlement” pay-out of one quarter of their ministerial salary on leaving their posts.

Tory deputy chief whip Alexander Burnett called the payment “clearly wrong” given the circumstances of McDonald’s departure.

Despite drawing a salary of almost £62,000, the Aberdeen Donside MSP – who faces three allegations of wrongdoing – has not attended Holyrood since resigning from the cabinet in November and remains suspended by the SNP.

Earlier this week Transport Minister Humza Yousaf conceded the party’s investigation is “perhaps taking more time than it should”.

Calling for an urgent review, Burnett said: “It cannot be right that a minister who has resigned in such shameful circumstances has effectively received a bonus from the taxpayer.”

The SNP said it would be “inappropriate to comment” and the Scottish Parliament said a rule change “would ultimately be a matter for all MSPs”.