A NEW East Lothian councillor who was stripped of his party support just days before the local authority elections has been reinstated and given a senior role within its administration.
Scottish Labour withdrew its support of candidate Ruaridh Bennett after a complaint was lodged over historic comments he made on social media, which it was alleged included verbal attacks towards female politicians.
The young candidate, who is in his early twenties, remained on the ballot paper as a Labour candidate as it was too late to make changes and won a seat in the Musselburgh ward.
East Lothian Labour group saw all 10 of their candidates, including student Bennettt, elected – however he had to be initially registered as an independent councillor.
At the time East Lothian Labour group leader Councillor Norman Hampshire gave his support to the new elected member, insisting an appeal would be lodged.
Hampshire said: “Lots of young people say things they should not on social media and the people of Musselburgh have backed him as a Labour candidate.
“We have a good group of councillors who are here to make sure he gets all the support he needs.”
And at the first meeting of the new council this week Bennett was back as a Labour councillor after being reinstated into the party.
He was appointed deputy spokesperson for environment, economic development and tourism.
The role is one of four deputy spokesperson roles handed to new or recently elected Labour councillors by the administration in the new line-up.
Bennett has not commented on the row which led to his temporary suspension over tweets he shared as a teenager.
A spokesperson for East Lothian Labour said: “Councillor Bennett had apologised for the remarks he made on Twitter and been reminded of the rules and his responsibility under the councillors’ code of conduct.”
