On September 27, 2025, the Scottish Labour Party was thrust into the spotlight after it suspended MSP Foysol Choudhury over an allegation of inappropriate conduct. The move, which comes just days before the party's annual conference, has sent ripples through the political landscape, drawing sharp criticism from opposition parties and raising questions about transparency and internal party discipline.
Choudhury, who represents Lothian in the Scottish Parliament, was administratively suspended pending the outcome of an internal investigation. According to STV News, the suspension follows an internal complaint regarding alleged inappropriate conduct. The party has stated that all complaints are “fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures, and any appropriate action is taken.” While the details of the allegation remain confidential as the investigation proceeds, the party’s stance has been clear: “The Labour Party takes all complaints seriously.”
The decision means Choudhury, the first Scottish Bangladeshi elected to Holyrood in 2021, will now sit as an independent. His profile on the Scottish Parliament website has already been updated to reflect this change. Choudhury’s background is notable—he serves as chair of the Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council and is vice-chair of the Edinburgh Mela, a multicultural festival he helped found. These roles have made him a prominent advocate for diversity and inclusion in Scotland’s capital region.
This is not the first time in recent weeks that Scottish Labour has found itself grappling with internal disciplinary issues. Just over a month ago, fellow MSP Colin Smyth was suspended from the party after being arrested and charged in connection with the possession of indecent images. As ITV News reported, Smyth’s suspension was swiftly followed by further charges relating to allegations of a secret camera being placed in toilets inside the Scottish Parliament—a charge Smyth denies. Importantly, party sources have clarified that the two suspensions are not believed to be linked.
The proximity of these two suspensions has, however, drawn fierce criticism from political opponents. SNP MP Kirsty Blackman was quick to seize on the news, insisting that Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar “must urgently come clean on the reasons why yet another Labour Party MSP has been suspended, shortly after Colin Smyth.” Blackman did not mince words, declaring, “The public deserve full transparency. Given the long list of scandals that have rocked the Labour Party recently – with Foysol Choudhury, Colin Smyth, Peter Mandelson, Morgan McSweeney, Paul Ovenden and Angela Rayner all caught up in the last month alone – voters deserve answers. Whatever the explanation, with yet another scandal on the eve of their party conference, there’s no doubt the Labour Party is in crisis.”
Her call for openness was echoed by Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton, who described Labour as being in “complete chaos” ahead of their conference. Hamilton took aim at the party’s leadership, saying, “Confidence in Sir Keir Starmer is gone after a year of broken promises and U-turns, the digital ID scheme has faced instant backlash, Anas Sarwar is engaging in bizarre attacks on independent experts, and now Scottish Labour have had to suspend another MSP. Labour should launch an investigation into this latest situation and be as transparent as possible about what’s happened.”
For Scottish Labour, the timing could hardly be worse. The party conference, an event intended to showcase unity and policy vision, now risks being overshadowed by questions about its internal culture and the effectiveness of its disciplinary procedures. As The Guardian noted, the party has insisted it cannot comment further while the investigation into Choudhury’s conduct is ongoing. Nonetheless, the chorus of demands for transparency from both the SNP and the Conservatives has grown louder, with both parties framing the issue as symptomatic of a deeper malaise within Labour ranks.
It’s not just opposition parties sounding the alarm. Within the wider public and political sphere, there is a growing sense of unease about the frequency and nature of recent Labour scandals. The list cited by Blackman—encompassing not only Choudhury and Smyth but also high-profile figures like Peter Mandelson and Angela Rayner—reflects a month of relentless negative headlines for the party. While the allegations and circumstances differ in each case, the cumulative effect has been to erode public confidence and provide ammunition for critics.
Despite the turmoil, the Labour Party has sought to project a message of due process and fairness. “They are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures, and any appropriate action is taken,” the party’s spokesperson reiterated in statements to multiple outlets, including BBC and STV News. The party’s insistence on following established procedures is, in part, a response to previous criticisms about how complaints—especially those involving high-profile figures—are handled. Yet, for many observers, the lack of detail about the nature of the allegations against Choudhury has only fueled speculation and frustration.
As the investigation into Choudhury’s conduct unfolds, the impact on his constituents in Lothian and on the broader Scottish Labour movement remains to be seen. Choudhury’s record as a campaigner for equality and multiculturalism has made him a respected figure in Edinburgh and beyond. His administrative suspension, however, underscores the seriousness with which the party is treating the complaint and the broader imperative to address allegations of misconduct swiftly and transparently.
The events of the past month have also shone a spotlight on the challenges facing political parties as they navigate the need for both confidentiality in sensitive investigations and the public’s right to know. The balance is a delicate one, especially in an age of instant communication and social media scrutiny. For Scottish Labour, the coming days will be a test not only of its internal governance but also of its ability to reassure voters that it is capable of self-scrutiny and reform.
As the conference approaches, party leaders will be under intense pressure to address the concerns raised by Blackman, Hamilton, and others. Whether the party can weather this storm and refocus attention on its policy agenda remains an open question. For now, the suspension of Foysol Choudhury stands as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges facing one of Scotland’s major political forces.
