News
SNP to readmit suspended MP Neale Hanvey who compared Israel to the Nazis
He was suspended during the 2019 general election campaign
March 4, 2020 10:27
He was suspended during the 2019 general election campaign
March 4, 2020 10:27The SNP is to readmit an MP who was suspended during the general election campaign for comparing Israel to the Nazis.
Neale Hanvey was suspended from the Scottish Nationalist Party on November 29, two weeks before he was elected to be the MP for Kircaldy and Cowdenbeath. He has sat as an independent.
In 2016, the former councillor compared Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians with that of the Jews by the Nazis on Facebook.
He also shared an article from Kremlin-sponsored newswire Sputnik that cast Hungarian-Jewish philanthropist George Soros as a puppet master of world leaders.
When the posts came to light, Mr Hanvey apologised “unreservedly” for the “deeply offensive” and “clearly unacceptable” posts.
He said that would “seek to make amends for these dreadful errors of judgement with the Jewish community.”
The SNP’s member conduct committee, which met on Saturday, ruled that Mr Hanvey would be re-admitted after six months, back dated to his suspension in November. The committee’s ruling is open to appeal.
The decision is conditional on Mr Hanvey meeting with the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, the representative body of Scottish Jews, and attending an antisemitism education course at a Holocaust centre.
Mr Hanvey is reported to have been informed on Tuesday and he could the SNP’s Westminster group in late May.
The SNP branch in Kircaldy and Cowdenbeath, which is the constituency of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, backed Mr Hanvey’s readmission in January.
Neale Hanvey told the JC that he had "independently taken steps to build constructive relationships with representatives of the Jewish community in Parliament" and that he had "began a course of study some weeks ago which I hope to complete shortly."
The Anti-Semitism Policy Trust, a organisation that seeks to educate and fight antisemitism, said that they were "committed to working with Neale and parliamentariasns in any party that wish to better understand anti-Jewish racism, particularly if they have engaged in it and recognise that they are wrong."
The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities said in a statement: "Mr Hanvey's conduct was indefensible, but we welcome that the party has demonstrated that it is able to engage with the Jewish community on these issues, and has committed to disciplinary action in order to demonstrate a zero tolerance approach to racism"
The Council added: “This goes beyond imposing penalties. Education is absolutely vital.
"Although Mr Hanvey has apologised, meaningful engagement and education are crucial to demonstration that he understands the seriousness of his actions and the impact that anti-Jewish racism has on real people.”
