‘Anti-Semitism’ Lib Dem candidate sacked

Kezia Dugdale has warned the politics of austerity is creating a mental health “crisis” in Scotland.

The Scottish Labour leader called on businesses to tackle mental health in the workplace to help boost productivity in a speech to the Wellbeing at Work conference in Edinburgh.

Ms Dugdale told the audience of business people that psychologists and mental health experts agreed austerity was “devastating” for mental health.

She said: “Picture the kind of stress you would feel under if every single day of your life you had to worry about putting food on the table for your chil- dren. That’s a reality for the tens of thousands of families in Scotland who rely on food banks.

“Put yourself in the shoes of an employee who after working eight hours every day, doesn’t go home to relax in front of the television but goes back to a home where they are responsible for the round-the-clock care of a relative.

“Brutal welfare cuts, including the restriction of personal independence payments to those with mental health problems, are piling more misery onto the already vulnerable.

“This is a human crisis but we shouldn’t forget that it’s a human crisis with a huge economic impact too.” Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has sacked a general election candidate facing allegations of antiSemitism.

Mr Farron denounced ex-MP David Ward as “unfit to represent the party” and reversed a decision to let him stand for the party on June 8 in his old constituency of Bradford East.

The decision came hours after Prime Minister Theresa May unleashed a broadside at the Lib Dems in the Commons for putting forward a candidate “with questionable views on anti-Semitism”.

In a statement issued by the Lib Dems, Mr Farron said: “I believe in a politics open, tolerant and united. David Ward is unfit to represent the party.”

Mr Ward said: “I'm stunned and somewhat ashamed of my own party.” He could not say whether he would fight his removal.

Mr Ward sparked accusations of anti-Semitism with a blog comparing the treatment of Palestinians by “Jews” to the Holocaust.

Kezia Dugdale at the Wellbeing at Work conference