Suspended Labour candidate 'lied to party', says Anas Sarwar

A suspended Labour candidate charged with fraud “lied” to the party, Anas Sarwar has said.

Mohammed Ameen was replaced as the Labour candidate for Glasgow Southside on Wednesday after he appeared in private at Ayr Sheriff Court last Thursday.

Scottish Labour leader Mr Sarwar said Mr Ameen had already told the party he wanted to step down “because his mother was unwell”.

But Mr Sarwar said Mr Ameen initially “did not tell staff the truth”.

Anas Sarwar at a campaign event in Edinburgh on Thursday morning | Lisa Ferguson/The Scotsman

Mr Sarwar said at an event in Edinburgh on Thursday morning: “He told us that he wanted to step back as a candidate because his mother was unwell, we accepted that reasoning, and therefore he was going to be changed as the candidate.

“And then subsequently became aware that he was the subject of this investigation.

“So not only was he no longer a candidate, he was of course, suspended from the Labour Party.”

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He added: “I knew this is all within a matter of 24-48 hours.

“One thing's really clear, someone in that circumstance, it's not appropriate for them to be a candidate, and it's right that they are suspended from the party.”

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He continued: “Let's be really clear, he did not tell [Labour] staff the truth. He lied to them, which is not acceptable.

“And of course, I wish his mother well. I want him to be there to support his family, and that would have been reason enough for someone to want to step back.

“But the very fact that he's subject to an investigation in a very serious allegation means he is right to be suspended, and is right that he's not a candidate.”

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Mr Sarwar added: “He should have just been up front and told the truth. And obviously, if he had been, he wouldn’t have been a candidate.”

Mr Ameen also posted a video of himself and Mr Sarwar on Facebook on the day he appeared in court.

SNP candidate for Glasgow Southside Kaukab Stewart said: “Anas Sarwar was laughing and joking with a Scottish Labour candidate on the very same day he was up in court to be charged with fraud.

“Are Scottish voters seriously expected to believe Scottish Labour knew nothing of these charges until now? Anas Sarwar must think the public are zipped up the back.”