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Scottish Labour is currently navigating a period of unprecedented internal turbulence as it prepares for the May 2026 Holyrood elections. The party's moral authority has been questioned following the high-profile exit of Pam Duncan-Glancy. Once a cornerstone of the shadow cabinet, Duncan-Glancy withdrew her 2026 candidacy after admitting to a "serious lapse in professional judgment" regarding her lifelong friendship with Sean Morton. Morton, a former councillor, was jailed in early 2025 for further sexual offenses involving child imagery. Despite the gravity of his crimes, reports confirmed that Duncan-Glancy maintained regular contact, including celebrating personal milestones together late last year. While she remains an MSP for the Glasgow region until the election, the scandal has left a significant void in the party’s frontbench and damaged its "highest standards" pledge.
The Unresolved Foysol Choudhury Deadlock
Parallel to the Duncan-Glancy resignation is the increasingly toxic suspension of Foysol Choudhury, the first Bangladeshi-born MSP. Suspended in September 2025 over "inappropriate conduct," Choudhury has now spent over 110 days in political limbo. While initial leaks suggested a complaint of sexual harassment, recent updates from the party’s Governance and Legal Unit (GLU) have pivoted the focus toward allegations of "bullying." Crucially, Choudhury’s legal team asserts that as of mid-January 2026, no formal complaint has been finalized by any accuser, and the MSP has not even been interviewed. Despite this, the party has moved to effectively de-select him by reopening his Edinburgh Northern seat to an all-women shortlist—a list that currently contains no candidates of color.
Allegations of Institutional Bias and Double Standards
The contrast between the two cases has led to a growing rebellion among anti-racism campaigners and local party members. Critics, including prominent community leaders, argue that Scottish Labour is operating a "double standard" by allowing white MSPs a swifter resolution or "error of judgment" status, while Choudhury is subjected to "punishment without a verdict." The lack of transparency regarding his accusers and the nature of the evidence has sparked accusations of institutional racism. Supporters claim the suspension was strategically timed to bypass his unanimous democratic reselection by local members in August 2025, effectively removing the party's most prominent minority voice without due process.
The Independent Threat for 2026
As the 2026 selection deadlines loom, Foysol Choudhury’s status has already been updated to "Independent" on official parliamentary records. With the Labour Party moving forward with a candidate shortlist that excludes him, speculation is mounting that Choudhury will stand as an Independent candidate for Edinburgh Northern. Such a move would be a historic challenge to the party, potentially splitting the Labour vote in a key constituency and mobilizing the British Bangladeshi community across Scotland. The outcome of this standoff may well decide Scottish Labour's credibility on equality and justice ahead of the most critical election in a decade.
