Labour drops election candidate after fraud charge
PA MediaScottish Labour has dropped its election candidate for a key Holyrood constituency after he was charged with fraud.
Glasgow Southside hopeful Mohammed Ameen made no plea when he appeared at Ayr Sheriff Court last week and was granted bail.
The pharmacist and community council leader has been suspended by Scottish Labour.
A spokesman said the party took immediate action when it learned of the fraud accusation.
He added: "Scottish Labour holds its candidates to the highest standards of honesty and integrity."
Ameen has been replaced by Rashid Hussain, leader of the Labour group on Glasgow City Council, as the party's candidate.
Glasgow Southside has been held since 2011 by former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, who is not seeking re-election in next month's election.
Ameen is one of several Holyrood candidates to have been withdrawn this week.
Hours after he was dropped, the SNP suspended its group convener on North Lanarkshire Council, Tracy Carragher, and dropped her as a list candidate for Central Scotland and Lothians West.
She has been criticised for her handling of complaints about former council leader Jordan Linden, who last week was convicted of sexually assaulting young men.
Green candidate Guy Ingerson was suspended due to a complaint from a party rival, while Reform lost several Holyrood hopefuls in the days after their unveiling.
