Police investigate racism attack against Chinese politician in Scotland

A young Chinese politician, with sights set on a place in Scotland's Parliament, has resigned from the Scottish Nationalist Party after being subjected to racism by party members.

Police Scotland is investigating the racism claim made by 29 years old Jin Yen Hongmei, who was elected to serve as an SNP councillor on a local council in Scotland in May, 2012.

Her decision to leave the party came after she told SNP officials she had been subjected to a racist attack as well as bullying.

Jin, who was born in Zheijang province, moved to Scotland in 2003 and says she will now continue her political career as an independent with no affiliations to any political group.

News of her decision to quit the SNP made headline news in weekend editions of a number of leading newspapers in Scotland. It comes after the SNP continues to ride on the crest of a wave after their sweeping success across Scotland in Britain's general election in May when they won all but one of the Scottish seats in the British House of Commons.

So far the SNP has refused to respond to Jin's claims, saying as it is now a police matter it would be inappropriate to comment further.

Jin is quoted in Scottish media as saying she was forced to resign after leaders of the SNP failed to protect her against discrimination from local party members.

As a councillor on the Dumfries and Galloway Council, which covers one of the most scenic area of Scotland, Jin was a member of the local Burns Festival Trust. The organisation was established to celebrate the life of one of Scotland's most famous poets. Robert Burns, who died in Dumfries in 1796.

Jin says she was targeted for helping organise a traditional Scottish event - a fundraiser for Burns Night - when 'she had no Scottish roots'.

After receiving an email, which she claimed was rude and vulgar, Jin raised what had happened with the SNP's head office in Edinburgh.

Six months after lodging her complaint she is still awaiting a response from SNP headquarters, saying this weekend she felt the incident had left her feeling isolated and shocked.

She said: "I was organising a Burns night. One member replied to me with a very rude and vulgar e-mail attached.

"I wanted some reassurance from the (SNP) party, but they completely ignored my complaint. At least they could have contacted me to say that this is being dealt with. I just feel isolated. They are trying to shove it under the carpet. The way I've been treated is definitely racist. It's disgusting. I have handed it in to police."

She told local media in Scotland: "It takes strength to stand up against evil and I'm doing it for myself and thousands of other people from other cultures who compose this country."

Jin plans to stand as an independent candidate in next year's Scottish parliamentary elections.