The Scottish Labour leader has said it is "nonsense” to suggest there is a cultural issue in Scottish Labour following the arrests of two senior councillors as opposition parties urge ‘transparency’ from the party. 

Anas Sarwar's comments come after it emerged that Glasgow Labour councillor Philip Braat had been charged in connection with stalking offences in October.

The former lord provost has been suspended from the party pending an investigation.

In November, Inverclyde Council leader Stephen McCabe was separately charged with assault and threatening or abusive behaviour.

The 60-year-old, who later quit as the local authority leader, is accused of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards a woman in Kilmacolm on October 27. He is also accused of assaulting her. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following the arrests of the two senior councillors. Mr Sarwar told journalists it is “nonsense” to suggest there is a cultural issue in Scottish Labour. 

Mr Sarwar said the situation is “deeply unfortunate” but he insisted all political parties have to deal with such cases.

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Asked whether the arrests highlighted a cultural issue within his party by PA news agency, Mr Sarwar said: “I think that’s utterly nonsense. I think there will be individual cases that come across all individual political parties.

“But is this deeply unfortunate? Yes, but I’m not going to comment on live investigation.”

Responding to the comments made by Mr Sarwar, an SNP source told The Herald: “Anas Sarwar’s language seems dismissive of the issues at hand which are wider societal problems of violence towards women and girls, especially during 16 days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.”  

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is a global campaign that takes place annually from November 25 to December 10. 

The campaign aims to raise awareness and mobilize action to end violence against women and girls. It also highlights the need for gender equality and systemic change. 

A Scottish Conservative spokesperson said: “Labour should be transparent and investigate all of these cases.”

A Labour Party spokesperson said the party takes all complaints seriously and they are “fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures, and any appropriate action is taken.”

The UK Labour Party reformed their Sexual Harassment Procedure in 2022 after an investigation into antisemitism by the Equality and Human Rights Commission found the party responsible for unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination.

This procedure also applies to the Scottish Labour party. 

The “ultimate sanction” that may result from this Sexual Harassment Procedure is that the member complained about is expelled from membership of the Party. The rules apply equally to every member- MP, MSPs and councillors alike. 

According to the procedure, if you are subject to a live police investigation into a crime of a serious nature you face an immediate suspension from the party and will not be allowed to run as a candidate. However, if you are an acting Labour politician you may be subject to this or you are placed on administrative suspension, pending the outcome of the investigation. 

For other complaints, if it is considered by the party too serious for them to investigate they will refer it to the police. In other instances, their independent complaints and advisory service will investigate and make necessary referrals on safeguarding grounds which could result in party expulsion. The procedures state these investigators are independent and are not employees or volunteers of the Labour Party. However, it does not state who the independent investigator is.