SCOTTISH Labour leader Richard Leonard has been accused of "empty, hollow words" after failing to expel a councillor who admitted making Islamophobic comments.

Jim Dempster told officials that then transport minister Humza Yousaf may have visited his area, but "no-one would have seen him under his burka".

He was suspended in March, but Mr Yousaf – now SNP Justice Secretary – said he had yet to be interviewed by the party and no further action had been taken five months on.

The MSP spoke out after attending a Pakistan Welfare Trust dinner at which Mr Leonard, who was one of the speakers, insisted he had a zero tolerance approach to Islamophobia.

Mr Yousaf wrote on Twitter: “Hey @LabourRichard [Richard Leonard] at Pakistan Welfare Trust dinner tonight you said you have a zero tolerance approach to Islamophobia.

“It has been 5 months since a ScotLab cllr admitted making Islamophobic remarks against me. I was told investigation will conclude in July. I've heard nothing.

“I've never been interviewed by Scottish Lab HQ neither have the other witnesses I have spoken to.

“Step up @LabourRichard and show me you are serious about tackling Islamophobia by your deeds not empty, hollow words.”

It comes as Jeremy Corbyn kicked off a four-day Scottish tour by visiting bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis as part of a campaign to promote British industry.

Meanwhile, a poll over the weekend showed Labour has opened up a three-point lead over the Tories despite an ongoing row over anti-Semitism within the party.

Mr Dempster, a Dumfries and Galloway councillor, previously said he was "deeply sorry" for the offence caused by his "totally unacceptable" remarks.

He asked to be given extra diversity training and also visited a mosque and received support from a local imam in a bid to make amends.

However further allegations of racist abuse later emerged, dating from the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The Labour councillor was accused of calling a six-year-old Muslim girl a “chocolate monkey” when he ran a shop in his home village. He denies the allegations.

A Scottish Labour spokesman said: "The Labour Party takes any allegation of racism extremely seriously.

"All complaints about Islamophobia are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken.”