A YOUNG leftwinger newly elected to Scottish Labour’s executive says members want an end to “backroom deals” with the Tories.

Lina Nass topped the Scottish executive committee (SEC) poll in the North East Scotland and Highlands and Islands region. The 23-year-old student union official unseated Linda Stewart, a senior university manager and unsuccessful Labour candidate in multiple elections.

Ms Nass is based in Aberdeen, where the entire group of Labour councillors was suspended last year – after they defied a party directive and formed a coalition with Conservatives. Their cases have been referred to Labour’s disciplinary body, which could end up expelling them – but the nine councillors have support from some Scottish Labour rightwingers.