SNP drops candidate in key marginal seat over allegations of antisemitism

The SNP has dropped its candidate for a key target seat over allegations of antisemitism.

The Party has withdrawn its support for Neale Hanvey, a former councillor who is running in Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, saying he had been suspended pending disciplinary action.

The allegations reportedly relate to a social media post in which Mr Hanvey compared Israel’s policies to the treatment of Jews in WWII, which would appear to be a breach of the International Definition of Antisemitism, according to which “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism. Another post Mr Hanvey had shared on Facebook in 2016 included an image of the Jewish billionaire George Soros as a puppet master controlling world leaders.

Mr Hanvey issued a apology, recognising how at least one of his comments breached the International Definition and saying that he was “genuinely and deeply sorry”

The SNP said: “Neale Hanvey is no longer an SNP candidate, and his membership has been suspended pending disciplinary action. All support for his campaign has been withdrawn.”

Mr Hanvey is the second candidate to have been dropped by Scottish parties this week over antisemitism.

On 8th December, regardless of religion, race or politics, Jews and non-Jews alike will gather in Parliament Square to declare that they stand together against antisemitism in the face of Jew-hatred in politics and mounting anti-Jewish hate crime.