ANAS Sarwar has "failed the first test of leadership" in dropping a Scottish Labour candidate over her views on Scottish independence.
In a recent interview with the Sunday National, Hollie Cameron, who was the Labour candidate for Glasgow Kelvin, said that her party "respects the right" to hold another vote on independence and the only "quibble" the party had was with the timing.
In response to the interview, the recently elected leader of the party in Scotland, Sarwar, said: "We do not have the luxury of our party pulling apart at this time, when we actually need a unified Labour Party serious about rebuilding our country."
A spokesperson for Scottish Labour said: “Hollie Cameron was not able to satisfy an SEC [Labour Scottish executive committee] interview panel that she would follow the Scottish Labour group whip if elected as an MSP, and the SEC panel has therefore withdrawn their endorsement of her candidacy, meaning that she is ineligible to be a Scottish Labour candidate. Arrangements will be put in place to fill the vacancy promptly.”
READ THE INTERVIEW: Labour candidate for Holyrood backs indyref2 but says there is 'quibble' over timing
The move to block Cameron from running on the Labour ticket has been condemned by the SNP candidate for Glasgow Kelvin, Kaukab Stewart.
Stewart said: “Anas Sarwar has failed his first test of leadership by making it abundantly clear that any Labour supporters who believe that the people of Scotland have a democratic right to choose their own future are not welcome in his party.
“That explains why people across Scotland have given up on Scottish Labour - voters just can’t take them seriously anymore.
“It is the people who live here who should decide what kind of country Scotland should be - not Boris Johnson - and Labour’s dismissive attitude towards that democratic right won’t wash with voters."
Scottish Labour regional MSP for Lothian Neil Findlay also branded the move "absolutely outrageous" with other sitting MSPs also taking the same view to Cameron.
This is absolutely outrageous - Hollie Cameron was selected by members of her constituency, her views chime with many Labour voters and with the views expressed my myself, Monica Lennon and many members. What on earth is going on? https://t.co/rzpU8cRuVB
— Neil Findlay MSP (@NeilFindlay_MSP) March 9, 2021
He said: "This is absolutely outrageous - Hollie Cameron was selected by members of her constituency, her views chime with many Labour voters and with the views expressed my [sic] myself, Monica Lennon and many members. What on earth is going on?"
Findlay has previously said that the Scottish people "have the right" to determine the system of government that best suits their needs and that Labour should have a "clear and positive vision of Scotland’s future" that should be made a third option of any vote on independence.
The move was also condemned by another Labour candidate, Mercedes Villalba, who is running as a constituency candidate for Dundee City West as well as on the national list.
If Scottish Labour members who support another Scottish independence referendum are ineligible to stand as candidates, that could exclude 57% of the membership (Source: https://t.co/X3XZ7SA57x p.16). Good enough for subs, good enough to stand. No two-tier membership. https://t.co/X5W2fZM20k
— Mercedes Villalba (@LabourMercedes) March 9, 2021
She said: "If Scottish Labour members who support another Scottish independence referendum are ineligible to stand as candidates, that could exclude 57% of the membership.
"Good enough for subs, good enough to stand. No two-tier membership."
Villalba cited data from YouGov that polled Labour members on a number of subjects, including showing 57% of Scottish members would back another vote.
READ MORE: Scottish Labour MSP says party 'heading for a mess' over Hollie Cameron
The Scottish Greens also condemned the Labour leadership.
Co-leader Patrick Harvie, the party’s Glasgow Kelvin candidate, said: “It seems that Anas Sarwar has decided that there is no place in the Scottish Labour Party for candidates who support letting the people of Scotland choose our own future.
"It’s clear that left-leaning voters in Glasgow Kelvin who want progressive politics and are even slightly open to letting Scotland choose its own future can’t vote Labour.
"I’d encourage those voters to look to the Scottish Greens for a party that is unequivocal about putting Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands, and has a strong track record of forcing progressive change from the Scottish Government.”
Scottish Labour have been contacted for comment.
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