A FORMER Labour councillor has been suspended from the party over an allegedly racist online post – but says they may have “forgotten” to tell him.
Willie Young, the chairman of the Aberdeen Central constituency Labour Party and a royal representative, was put on administrative suspension by party chiefs. However, he says he only learned of this when the Press and Journal approached him for comment.
Young, a deputy lieutenant who represents the Queen at civic functions in the city, came under fire after sharing a post described as “clearly racist” by one LibDem councillor in the area.
The image showed a fortune cookie claiming to be a replacement coronavirus test. Inside text was written in stereotypical broken English and featured a caricature of a Chinese person.
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An official complaint was made to Scottish Labour shortly after the post was published and he was suspended the following day, on October 19, according to party sources.
When asked, Young told the P&J: “As far as I am aware I am still a member of the Labour Party, I have received nothing which suggests otherwise.
“Indeed, only on Monday as Aberdeen Central CLP chairman I received sensitive information regarding an update on membership and that membership update included my name on it.
“I would of course qualify my statement by reminding myself that we are speaking about the Scottish Labour Party under the disastrous control of Richard Leonard – so it could be that I am no longer a Labour member and that Richard Leonard has just forgotten to tell me and the membership secretary of his decision.”
The Grampian Regional Equality Council said some members of the area’s Chinese community have complained about the post’s “insensitivity”.
Young has claimed the image he shared was only meant to humorously highlight issues with the Test and Protect system. He apologised to those who found the post insensitive.
A Labour spokesman said: “The Labour Party takes all complaints of racism extremely seriously and they are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures, and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken.”
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