Leaked ring doorbell footage reveals Labour’s candidate for Aberdeen South telling a voter his party wanted the Tories to win the seat in 2019.
The “damning” footage obtained by the Press and Journal shows Tauqeer Malik telling a voter that the party “did not bother at all” in 2019 so the Tories would win.
Labour trailed in fourth that year, behind the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.
In the exchange, Mr Malik admits Conservative candidate John Wheeler is a “good friend” who he had hoped would win the Aberdeen South seat on July 4.
But he tells the voter, who says he is backing Conservatives in the election, that Labour is now the best bet to beat the SNP this time.
Senior Labour figures have targeted Aberdeen South in recent weeks after positive polling.
‘We did not bother at all’
Mr Malik continued: “When Douglas (Lumsden) was the candidate in 2019…We did not bother, Labour did not bother at all.
“We were hoping that Douglas would make it. That’s why Labour only had three thousand (votes) because we did not do anything.”
Mr Malik could not be reached directly on the phone but a statement was issued on his behalf, which failed to address the comments directly.
He added: “This election is about the need for change, from two governments that have put their own interests before the citizens of Aberdeen South.
“My focus in the last week of the campaign is about the future not the past.
“My message is clear to voters right across the constituency that if you want to defeat the SNP on July 4, don’t gamble on the Tories.”
Shona Simpson, Labour’s candidate in Aberdeen South in 2019, denied the party had thrown the election to help the Tories beat the SNP.
She said: “Absolutely not, that’s a ridiculous statement, no, absolutely no.”
‘Damning footage’
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, candidate for Aberdeen South, said: “The damning footage shows a Labour councillor and candidate stating that they backed Boris Johnson’s Tory party to win in Aberdeen – in years gone by that would be a simple sacking offence.”
Mr Wheeler said: “It is a straight fight between the Scottish Conservatives and the SNP in Aberdeen South, just like it is in every seat across the north-east.
“Labour came fourth here in 2019 and a vote for them will only help the nationalists.”
Scottish Labour did not comment directly on whether any action could be taken.
A spokesman said: “After 14 years of Tory chaos and 17 years of the SNP putting party before country – only Labour is campaigning to deliver the change Scotland needs.”
Other candidates standing in Aberdeen South include Jeff Goodhall (Scottish Liberal Democrats), Guy Ingerson (Scottish Greens), Michael Pearce (Reform UK), Graeme Craib (Scottish Family Party) and Sophie Molly (Independent).
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