SNP member investigating anti-Semitism resigns over 'anti-Semitic comments'

4 December 2019, 22:11

An SNP committee member set to investigate anti-Semitism within the party has resigned over allegations she made anti-Semitic comments on social media.

Denise Findlay was on the conduct committee expected to investigate SNP candidate Neale Hanvey.

Mr Hanvey was due to contest the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seat in the upcoming general election, but was suspended last week over anti-Semitic comments.

He has apologised "unreservedly" for social media comments, but will still face disciplinary action from the party.

However, Ms Findlay has now resigned from the party after being challenged over alleged anti-Semitic posts she made on her own social media account.

Channel 4 reported that in a tweet, the SNP candidate referred to Israel as a "Nazi state".

Addressing her resignation, Ms Findlay tweeted: "I've had to resign from the SNP. There are tweets where I'm arguing that Israel=Nazi should not be part of the definition of anti-Semitism. They were given to C4."

She later posted: "Just so you know I still support the SNP and will definitely be voting for them and I hope everyone who supports independence will vote SNP."

An SNP spokesman said: "There is no place for anti-Semitism in Scotland or in the SNP.

"All political parties have a duty to show leadership, and we will always take tough action in order to reassure the Jewish community that these matters are taken seriously.

"When challenged on her actions, Denise Findlay resigned from the SNP. The views she expressed are entirely at odds with the ethos of this party."

In further tweets this evening, Ms Findlay explained her departure.

She said: “It’s the tweets, the fact I’m on the conduct committee and that I’d donated to Neale Hanvey’s crowdfunded. 

"C4 had that information about me.

“Apparently because I’m on the Conduct Committee and donated to Neale Hanvey’s crowdfunder and they have screenshots of the tweets.”