SNP questions support for candidate

Supporters of an independent election candidate ditched by the SNP over an anti-Semitism row have been slammed for boosting his crowdfunder.

A page launched to pay for the axed former Neale Hanvey’s election campaign in Kirkcaldy smashed its target in less than 24 hours.

He launched the Crowdfunding public donations page on Saturday in a bid to raise £2,000. It was approaching double that total yesterday evening.

Mr Hanvey will contest the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency as an independent candidate after being suspended from the SNP over posts made on social media.

The money is to be used to fund Mr Hanvey’s campaign and promotional literature after the SNP removed all support and suspended him from the party on Thursday. However Stewart McDonald, the party’s defence spokesman and Glasgow South candidate, questioned why nationalists were backing the former Fife Council SNP group leader.

Responding to one on Twitter who said the anti-Semitism was a mere allegation, he said: “It’s not ‘alleged anti-Semitism’, he posted a statement apologising for spreading anti-Semitism – in this case theories that lead directly to hatred of Jews: comparisons with Nazis and George Soros conspiracies. “Why would you swing behind that?” Mr Hanvey, a former councillor, issued a full apology for his remarks made on Twitter more than two years ago, even offering to meet members of the Jewish community to discuss the issues.

Mr Hanvey said: “We need to return as many SNP or pro-independence MPs to ensure Scotland has the right to choose the future we want.

“Although I am running as an independent candidate I am the only one appearing on the ballot paper next to the SNP emblem.”

Among those pledging support for Mr Hanvey is Bill Mair, himself a former independent candidate in Kirkcaldy in the 2017 council election.

Posting on the crowdfunding page, Mr Mair said: “Neale is a decent guy who cares about others, regardless of ethnicity, sexuality, religion or creed.

“His vision for Scotland as a fairer, more equitable place, welcoming people from across the world is exactly what we need. I have no hesitation in backing him in his campaign.”

Mr Hanvey told The Courier on Thursday he hopes to be reinstated to the SNP when the party’s investigation is complete.

Neale Hanvey has smashed his crowdfunding cash target to stand as an independent.