Scotland’s Jewish community has welcomed action taken against suspended SNP MP Neale Hanvey following the discovery of anti-semitic tropes posted on his social media.
Mr Hanvey will likely be re-admitted to the party by the end of May, following a six-month suspension from the nationalists in the run up to last year’s general election.
As well as the party ban, Mr Hanvey will be given tailored education classes organised by the Jewish community which will attempt to address the anti-semitic behaviour he displayed in his social media posts.
The SNP moved swiftly to drop Mr Hanvey from the party once the Facebook posts were uncovered.
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 Scottish Council of Jewish Communities
Despite this, Mr Hanvey was successful in winning the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seat as an independent.
He retained support at the time from members of the Yes Kirkcaldy nationalist group.
Education and training
As well as serving out the remainder of his suspension, Mr Hanvey will attend education sessions with members of the Antisemitism Policy Trust and the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SC0JeC).
It is expected Mr Hanvey will attend several workshops which will instruct on the anti-semitic tropes he shared online, which involved slurs against prominent Jewish investor George Soros and the Israeli/Palestine conflict which contravened the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-semitism — which the SNP supports.
A spokeswoman for SCoJeC said: “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.
“This isn’t just about imposing penalties. Education is absolutely vital.
“Although Mr Hanvey has apologised, meaningful engagement and education are crucial to demonstrating that he understands the seriousness of his actions and the impact that anti-Jewish racism has on real people.”
Full apology
The Fife MP apologised “unreservedly” at the time of his suspension.
Mr Hanvey said: “As has now been widely reported in the media, I have been informed of the outcome of my meeting with the SNP’s Member Conduct Committee which took place on Saturday.
“Whilst the details of the sanction applied are now known, the party have been clear with me that this is a private internal matter, so it follows that I will respect that position of confidentiality.
“I am therefore unable to comment further on the details of the decision.
“I have independently taken steps to build constructive relationships with representatives of the Jewish community in Parliament and I am very grateful for their support and guidance.
“To assist me with this I began a course of study some weeks ago which I hope to complete shortly.”
Criticism
The aftermath of Mr Hanvey’s suspension was criticised in some quarters after it was discovered one of the women – Denise Findlay – set to investigate the issue had herself posted anti-semitic social media messages.
Ms Findlay apologised unreservedly and stepped down as both an SNP conduct committee member and party member once the allegations came to light.
Following his election win, Mr Hanvey was further criticised for giving his maiden speech in the commons on Holocaust memorial day, despite his suspension from the SNP for anti-semitism.
“No place for anti-semitism”
A spokesperson for the SNP said: “The decision of the Member Conduct Committee is open to appeal and so we cannot make any additional comment as this stage.
“As was said at the time of Mr Hanvey’s suspension, there is no place for anti-semitism in the SNP or in our society.”
The IHRA working definition of anti-semitism
Contemporary examples of anti-semitism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace and in the religious sphere could, taking into account the overall context, include, but are not limited to:
- Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.
- Making mendacious, dehumanising, demonising, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.
- Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.
- Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).
- Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.
- Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.
- Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour.
- Applying double standards by requiring of it a behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.
- Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterise Israel or Israelis.
- Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
- Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.
