The deputy leader of Scottish Labour has refused to apologise for sending a series of texts questioning a party stalwart’s religious faith.
Alex Rowley faces the prospect of a standards probe into the messages, wherein he accused John Rowan of “badness” after his former friend queried the selection of an independence-supporting candidate.
The MSP refused to discuss the comments, beyond expressing his anger at them being put into the public domain.
He told the Press and Journal: “It was a private discussion with a family friend and I’m obviously disappointed he has chosen to publicise that.”
Mr Rowan, who has been a card-carrying member of the party since 1972, was left fuming by the messages – and said he was considering referring the deputy leader to the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.
In one message, Mr Rowley suggested Mr Rowan had been “nasty and vicious” over the nomination of Mary Lockhart for a recent Fife Council by-election.
The deputy leader added: “I take it you are no longer a Christian given the badness you openly display towards fellow human beings.”
Mr Rowley sent the message after Mr Rowan had taken to social media to criticise Ms Lockhart’s selection.
Mr Rowan responded to the message, labelling it “outrageous”, before Mr Rowley replied: “If I have nothing positive to say about people, I will say nothing about them personally.”
That comment drew ridicule from his erstwhile ally, who pointed to Mr Rowley’s previous public criticism of Ian Murray MP.
The latter figure, Labour’s only MP in Scotland, resigned from the Shadow Cabinet in protest at Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, which Mr Rowley continues to support.
However, Mr Rowley denied he had launched a personal attack on Mr Murray, before adding in a further message: “There is only one judge at the end of the day that we all answer to”.
Mr Rowan, 60, told a newspaper he was “considering” putting in a complaint to the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland in relation to the messages.