We’ve reasons to be cheerful in Scotland

THERE IS one part of the UK where the election results were good, or at least better, for the Jews. In Scotland, the SNP suffered a dizzying reversal, losing more than a third of their seats including former leader Alex Salmond and their leader in the Commons, Angus Robertson.

Just two years after handing the SNP all but three Scottish seats at Westminster, voters kicked back against Nicola Sturgeon’s campaign for another independence referendum. The Tories capitalised, picking up 12 extra seats, their best night in Scotland since 1983.

Claiming Mr Salmond’s scalp was a shining prize for Ruth Davidson’s party, but the real jewel in the crown was regaining East Renfrewshire, which they had lost to Jim Murphy in 1997.

The affluent suburban seat, home to much of Scotland’s Jewish community, was the embodiment of New Labour — but has again become a blue bastion, won by solicitor Paul Masterton.

What is common across the Scottish Conservatives is firm support for Israel, opposition to BDS, and a commitment to combating antisemitism.

Labour’s candidate Blair McDougall is a moderate who signed the We Believe in Israel election pledge. However, Labour’s embrace of Mr Corbyn was always going to hinder him.

With some honourable exceptions (Stewart McDonald, who was re-elected in Glasgow South, takes a more balanced view), most in the SNP are sharply hostile to Israel and its interests. Tommy Sheppard and Dr Philippa Whitford, key players in the powerful SNP Friends of Palestine lobby, were returned to the Commons, but there was better news in the Highlands, with the defeat of Paul Monaghan.

He had tweeted during Operation Pillar of Defence: “The proud Jewish race, so ashamedly persecuted by the Nazis, now persecuting the people of #Gaza. Are memories so short?”. The JC later forced an apology.

The SNP will come under pressure to drop their push for a second independence referendum. The party is weakened and on the run from its record in devolved government. One silver lining is that they might be too distracted to grandstand and indulge in demagoguery on the Middle East.

Stephen Daisley is a columnist for the Scottish Daily Mail