SNP MP Kirsty Blackman calls on Scottish Labour leader to 'come clean' on suspended MSP Foysol Choudhury

A Scottish National Party MP has called on Anas Sarwar to “come clean” on the reasons why Labour has suspended MSP Foysol Choudhury.

Kirsty Blackman insists “the public deserves full transparency” after the Lothian representative became the latest Labour politician to be embroiled in a “scandal”.

It was revealed on Saturday that Choudhury has been suspended pending investigation amid a reported internal complaint over alleged inappropriate conduct.

Blackman is now urging the Scottish Labour Leader to give a full explanation to the public.

Commenting on the suspension, the SNP MP for Aberdeen North, said: “Anas Sarwar must urgently come clean on the reasons why yet another Labour Party MSP has been suspended, shortly after Colin Smyth.

“The public deserve full transparency. Given the long list of scandals that have rocked the Labour Party recently – with Foysol Choudhury, Colin Smyth, Peter Mandelson, Morgan McSweeney, Paul Ovenden and Angela Rayner all caught up in the last month alone – voters deserve answers.

“Whatever the explanation, with yet another scandal on the eve of their party conference, there’s no doubt the Labour Party is in crisis.”

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said Choudhury’s suspension showed “Labour are in complete chaos on the eve of their conference”.

The Tory MSP said: “Confidence in Sir Keir Starmer is gone after a year of broken promises and U-turns, the digital ID scheme has faced instant backlash, Anas Sarwar is engaging in bizarre attacks on independent experts, and now Scottish Labour have had to suspend another MSP.

“Labour should launch an investigation into this latest situation and be as transparent as possible about what’s happened.”

A spokesperson for Scottish Labour said: “The Labour Party takes all complaints seriously.

“They are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures, and any appropriate action is taken.”

Choudhury was voted into the Scottish parliament from the regional list in the 2021 elections, becoming the first Scottish Bangladeshi elected to Holyrood.

He is currently listed on the Scottish Parliament website as an independent.