CAA calls newly-emerged comments by SNP candidate comparing Conservatives to Hitler and the Holocaust “disgraceful” and “ignorant”

A Scottish National Party (SNP) candidate in the forthcoming Scottish elections has apologised after comments from 2017 emerged in which she had reportedly compared tactics by the Conservatives to Hitler and the Holocaust.

Stephanie Callaghan, who is standing in Uddingston and Bellshill, Lanarkshire, reportedly wrote on Twitter in connection with a possible second Scottish independent referendum: “Tory propaganda provides a window into future plans — stamp on democracy. Hitler did same: set scene 4 Jewish Holocaust to lower opposition.”

At the time, Ms Callaghan was a South Lanarkshire councillor, and she was apparently responding to then-Prime Minister Theresa May’s intention to block an independence vote.

Ms Callaghan has apologised saying: “The words in this old tweet were poorly chosen and I apologise for the offence caused. I have deleted the tweet.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “There is no comparison between political tensions in the UK today and Nazi Germany’s systematic destruction of democracy and murder of six million Jewish men, women and children. Politicians must set an example by learning the lessons of the Holocaust — not diminishing the memory of those innocents who were slaughtered by using the Holocaust to score political points. To make such a comparison is disgraceful and wounding, showing incredible ignorance.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism advocates for zero tolerance of antisemitism in public life. To that end we monitor all political parties and strive to ensure that any cases of concern are properly addressed.