Fife SNP candidate sent ‘Nazi scum’ hate mail

Police launch probe after letters were scrawled with swastikas

An SNP general election candidate has been sent hate mail daubed with Nazi symbols, The Courier can reveal.

Police are investigating the delivery of at least three letters to North East Fife SNP candidate Stephen Gethins which have been scrawled with swastikas and “coloured-in” with Hitler-related imagery.

The former special adviser to former First Minister Alex Salmond has also been sent leaflets penned with the words “Nazi scum”, while SNP activists in the area have also been threatened and intimidated with abusive phone calls and face-to-face threats.

Police are also investigating an email sent to the SNP’s campaign office in Crossgate, Cupar, which said ‘your activists better know where the hospitals are before they come to my door again’.

Investigations are also being carried out into the letting down of tyres on SNP activist vehicles.

Details of the incidents emerged just days after Conservative North East Fife candidate Huw Bell hit out at “sickening” vandalism to his campaign signs in fields outside of Cupar.

Culprits there have struck at least twice over the past week damaging signs and spraying them with abusive slogans.

Cupar SNP Fife councillor Karen Marjoram said: “There is no place in a modern democracy for offensive behaviour, whether it be defacing or damaging signs, or in posting obscene or offensive messages through the post.

“We all have a right to hold whatever political view we wish, as long as it does not harm anyone. I am saddened that someone has chosen to post these items to our campaign hub, where our volunteers have had to deal with them.”

Mr Gethins said: “I hope that representatives of all parties continue to campaign in a spirit of respect for each other and the voters.”

There have been a number of other Nazi swastika vandalisms on SNP billboards across Scotland in recent weeks.

On Thursday a billboard featuring Ms Sturgeon in Glasgow Govan was targeted.

The vandalism comes just weeks after Labour and Conservative party offices were targeted in Aberdeen, with Nazi symbols and ‘scum’ daubed on windows.

Picture: George McLuskie. Ms Sturgeon and candidate Stephen Gethins, who has received abusive mail.