A major Labour donor says the “ridiculous” decision to suspend Aberdeen councillors for entering coalition with the Conservatives means he won’t fund the party’s general election fight.
Businessman Alan Massie supported Kezia Dugdale when she ran to be leader of the Scottish Labour Party in 2015.
But after she suspended nine councillors in Aberdeen for forming an administration which included Tories he has ruled out any further financial support.
He described the decision as “ridiculous.”
He went on to say: “I am not going to give any more money until we see the direction of the party after June 8.
“On the ballot paper candidates stood as Aberdeen Labour.
“They got the consent of the Scottish Labour to do that.
“Members of 35 years have been left in tears.
“If the SNP would stop speaking about independence there might have been a coalition agreement.”
Mr Massie has also given £400,000 to the party at a Scotland and UK level including £25,000 to Owen Smith when he attempted to oust Jeremy Corbyn.
A spokesman for Scottish Labour said the party cannot do deals with parties which would impose austerity.
He said: “Labour’s approach has been clear and consistent.
“We absolutely cannot do a deal with another party if it would result in further austerity being imposed on local communities.
“The Tories are a pro-austerity party and the SEC panel did not accept that working families in Aberdeen would be protected from further cuts as a result of the proposed deal with the Tories.”