SNP lay down conditions for suspended Kirkcaldy MP to rejoin party

Neale Hanvey has been suspended for six months, back dated to the time of his election in December.

That means he will formally rejoin the SNP benches at Westminster – where he sits, but as an independent – from the end of May.

The decision marks the end of a three-month investigation by the party after it suspended him as its constituency candidate over anti-Semitic posts on social media.

Mr Hanvey’s name remained on the pre-printed ballot papers, but it meant the SNP had no candidate in a seat that was high on its radar.

He soldiered on as an independent with the support of Kirkcaldy’s Yes Hub – and still won the seat, defeating sitting MP, Lesley Laird.

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The SNP’s formal disciplinary process concluded at the weekend with the decision to back-date his suspension.

Before returning to the fold Mr Hanvey must complete an educational course at a Holocaust centre to demonstrate an understanding of anti-Semitism.

He must also meet with the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities and apologise for his previous action.

A spokesman for the party 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.”

Mr Hanvey has already issued an “unequivocal apology” for the posts he made on social media.

In 2016 he shared a post which included an image of billionaire financier, George Soros, which depicted him as a puppet master – an anti-Semitic trope.

A second post saw him draw parallels between the treatment of Palestinians and Jews in World War Two.

He will now rejoin the party on May 29 subject to completing the educational course and his meeting with, and an apology to the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities.