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Scottish Labour’s campaign to end two decades of SNP rule has been severely jeopardised by the administrative suspension of Lothian MSP Foysol Choudhury over an allegation of inappropriate conduct. The timing of the suspension—just before the party's annual conference—has ignited a political crisis, forcing the party to manage an internal scandal instead of building momentum for the upcoming Scottish Parliament election.
Mr. Choudhury, a highly-profile figure who became the first Scottish Bangladeshi elected to Holyrood in 2021, will now sit as an independent MSP while the internal party investigation proceeds. He is the second Labour MSP to be suspended in less than two months, prompting a furious backlash from opposition parties.
The Suspension and International Profile
The Labour Party confirmed the suspension, stating it "takes all complaints seriously" and that the matter is being "fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures." They have not revealed the specifics of the alleged inappropriate conduct.
This scandal now eclipses Mr. Choudhury's previous political and community work, including his high-profile efforts to forge ties between Scotland and Bangladesh. In a key moment of his time in office, Mr. Choudhury invited and hosted Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. The visit, which included a reception and a meeting with the Presiding Officer, took place during the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, underscoring Mr. Choudhury's role as the Chair of the Scottish Parliament's Cross-Party Group on Bangladesh.
Opposition parties have seized on the latest turmoil. SNP MP Kirsty Blackman demanded Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar "urgently come clean" on the reasons for the suspension, stressing that the "public deserve full transparency." Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton claimed the latest incident demonstrates that "Labour are in complete chaos on the eve of their conference."
Choudhury’s Political Crossroads: Nomination and Future
The most critical issue for Mr. Choudhury is the upcoming Scottish election nomination process.
If his suspension is NOT withdrawn (i.e., disciplinary action is taken or the investigation is ongoing) before the official deadline for candidate nominations:
Deselection and Ineligibility: He would be virtually certain to be deselected and rendered ineligible to stand as a Scottish Labour candidate. The party would move to select a replacement for the Lothian regional list.
Independent Campaign: His political career within the Labour Party would be over. His only option to remain in politics would be to run as an independent candidate, a significant gamble in Scotland’s regional list system, which heavily favours established party affiliation.
If his suspension IS withdrawn (i.e., he is fully exonerated) before the deadline:
Damaged Candidacy: While technically reinstated, the reputational damage from the allegation and suspension may make the Labour leadership reluctant to back his candidacy. Mr. Sarwar and Sir Keir Starmer's focus on "highest standards" could still see him face a fresh, and potentially unwinnable, selection battle.
Mr. Choudhury’s long-term political viability is entirely dependent on the timeline and conclusion of the internal investigation. An extended probe or an adverse finding will end his career as a frontline Labour politician, forcing him onto an unpredictable independent path.
Sarwar's Distraction and Confidence
The suspension has provided a massive distraction from Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s attempts to present a united and confident front. Mr. Sarwar firmly stated at the party conference that he "absolutely" has confidence in Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, despite Starmer's recent polling struggles, but was quick to assert that he, as the candidate for First Minister, would lead the Holyrood election campaign.
Despite a Norstat poll showing the SNP leading (34% constituency) and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK surging ahead of Labour (20% vs 17%), Mr. Sarwar confidently dismissed the figures. "We have proven the pollsters and the pundits wrong, time and time again," he claimed. He also vehemently attacked Mr. Farage, asserting that he is "more representative of British values than Nigel Farage will ever be."
The controversy surrounding Mr. Choudhury, however, risks undermining Mr. Sarwar's narrative of a clean, disciplined party, shifting the focus from Labour’s policy agenda back onto internal chaos.
