Scottish Labour councillor suspended over race row linked to new far right party

Audrey Dempsey, a Scottish Labour councillor for the North Lanarkshire Council, has been suspended from the Labour Party following allegations of her engaging with content related to the far-right Homeland Party on social media. The Homeland Party is a newly formed political organization in Scotland that has been criticized for its controversial and divisive views.

The controversy surrounding Cllr. Dempsey began when it was discovered that she had "liked" several tweets from individuals and accounts known to have positive views towards the Homeland Party. These tweets included messages expressing support for the party and its leaders, as well as retweets of the party's own posts.

The Homeland Party was founded in 2021 by Mark Meechan, a controversial figure in Scottish politics who gained notoriety for creating a YouTube video in which he trained his dog to give a Nazi salute in response to the phrase "Sieg Heil." The party's platform includes anti-immigration and anti-establishment views, and it has been criticized by many for its association with far-right ideologies and hate speech.

Cllr. Dempsey's actions have been met with condemnation from both within and outside of the Labour Party. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called her behavior "unacceptable" and "disgraceful," and she was subsequently suspended from the party pending an investigation into the matter.

The controversy comes at a sensitive time for the Labour Party in Scotland, which is currently trying to rebuild after a disastrous showing in the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections in which it lost several seats and saw its vote share drop significantly. The party is also facing internal challenges from its left-wing faction, which has been pushing for more radical policies and a more confrontational approach towards the Scottish National Party (SNP), which has been in power in Scotland since 2007.

Cllr. Dempsey's suspension is not the first time that a Scottish Labour figure has been embroiled in a controversy related to far-right views. In 2019, former Labour MSP Neil Bibby resigned from the party after it was revealed that he had attended a meeting with members of the Scottish Defence League, a far-right organization with links to the English Defence League and other extremist groups.

The incident also highlights the challenge of dealing with far-right and extremist groups in Scotland and elsewhere in Europe, where such organizations have been gaining ground in recent years. The rise of these groups and their influence on mainstream politics is a cause of concern for many, and it is important for political parties and leaders to take a clear and unequivocal stance against them and their ideologies.

In conclusion, Scottish Labour councillor Audrey Dempsey has been suspended from the party following allegations that she engaged with content related to the far-right Homeland Party on social media. The controversy comes at a sensitive time for the Labour Party in Scotland and highlights the challenge of dealing with far-right and extremist groups in European politics. Cllr. Dempsey's actions have been widely condemned, and an investigation into the matter is ongoing.