COUNCILLOR Jim Dempster, who represents Mid and Upper Nithsdale, has been invited to speak at a Mosque.

It follows outrage from many individuals and organisations after he made a racist comment during a meeting with Transport Scotland officials on Tuesday, March 13.

He is currently under investigation, has been suspended by the Labour Party, and has vowed to accept the conclusion of inquires being carried out by senior officials.

Mr Dempster said: “I fully accept that my comments were totally unacceptable. I am deeply sorry for the offence I have caused, and I offered a full and immediate apology.

“I do not believe that the comments I made reflect the actions or views that I have held during my service to my community. What I would ask at this time, is that people consider my lifetime of unblemished service to the local community, as a special constable for 10 years, a firefighter in the Dumfries and Galloway Fire and Rescue Service for 20 years, and as a local councillor for the last 19 years — a continuous unblemished record stretching across 50 years.”

There have been messages of support, as well as criticism, locally and from the wider community, including two business owners.

“I am humbled by the fact that the local Muslim community reached out to me to offer their support, this was highlighted when two local Muslim businessmen visited me in my home, to express their personal views on this matter.

“I also had the honour of meeting with the Imam at the Mosque in Dumfries to seek his views. The Imam has kindly invited me to address the Mosque and work with members of the Muslim community. This will allow me to learn more about the issues facing ethnic minorities, especially in Dumfries and Galloway, and how the use of everyday language may affect them, and this will also give me the opportunity to reflect on, and challenge and change my behaviour.

“I understand the hurt and offence such comments cause, and have requested additional Diversity and Awareness training to be arranged for me. I can not change the comments made, but I am committed to taking responsibility for my actions, and playing my part in challenging discrimination wherever it is displayed,” Mr Dempster added.

Sardar Ahmad Rizvi, Imam at the Islamic Centre Dumfries, said the councillor was a ‘good man who has represented his community well for many years’.

He added: “I do not believe that Councillor Dempster`s comments constitute racism, or believe he is a racist, but he understands the hurt they have caused and he has apologised. Our religion teaches the importance of forgiveness.

“I have invited Councillor Dempster to address the Mosque and I look forward to working with him and others to highlight the issues many Muslims face in our community, and to show him the good I believe our religion does. Only by coming together can we genuinely create the type of tolerant communities we all want to live in.”

Social media has provided a forum for views from both sides — those who support Mr Dempster and others condemning him.

Emily Bryce: “Ignorant man, this type of remark shows his inbuilt deeply held racism. Diversity training will be interesting to see, something tells me you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

Councillor Elaine Murray: “I have known and worked with Councillor Jim Dempster for many years - during that time I have never heard him make a racist or Islamophobic remark. He nominated Anas Sarwar during the recent Scottish Labour leadership elections, which suggests he is not Islamophobic.”

Yvonne Nelson: “We neither want nor need this bigotry in Scotland.”

Steven M: “Dempster’s comment sounds more like a clumsy inappropriate attempt at outdated humour. You lose credibility when you conflate it with racism and Islamophobia.”