An MSP expelled from the SNP over a social media put up in regards to the Israel-Hamas battle has mentioned he’s “disappointed” over the choice.
John Mason, 67, initially misplaced the whip and has now been booted from the social gathering after posting on X in August: “If Israel wanted to commit genocide, they would have killed ten times as many.”
“Prior to now the SNP has been a ‘large tent’ tolerant social gathering, permitting a variety of views inside it so long as all of us agreed on the purpose of independence.
“My hope still is that the SNP will return to that position.”
Mr Mason, who will now sit in Holyrood as an unbiased, has three weeks to enchantment the choice.
He mentioned: “I will reflect on all this over the coming week and will then make a decision whether to appeal or not.”
The incident with Mr Mason got here amid criticism over a Scottish authorities assembly with Israeli diplomat Ms Grudsky.
The assembly solely got here to mild after Ms Grudsky posted an image on X with Exterior Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson.
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First Minister John Swinney claimed it was “necessary” and allowed his authorities to straight put throughout the necessity for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza.
Mr Mason additionally met with Ms Grudsky throughout her keep in Scotland and shared an image on-line, which led to him writing the put up that noticed him lose the social gathering whip.
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Mr Mason was expelled following a gathering with the SNP’s member conduct committee on Saturday.
He posted a replica of the correspondence obtained to Fb, which dominated he had breached the members’ code of conduct.
It learn: “Your continued insistence that you were the arbiter of what is considered to be genocide was felt by the committee to be unacceptable and offensive and was likely to damage the party.
“The committee was additionally of the view that the misrepresentation of social gathering coverage in relation to Israel and Palestine was unhelpful and likewise doubtlessly damaging.”
It added: “The committee felt that, regardless of being given the chance to do in any other case in each your written and oral proof, you confirmed no contrition, nor any consciousness of the impact on the social gathering of your actions.
“The committee was also of the view that you would make similar statements and act no differently if the situation were to arise in comparable circumstances. Therefore, expulsion was the only sanction that the committee felt was appropriate.”
Picture:
Mr Mason was the one MSP to vote towards the Abortion Providers (Secure Entry Zones) (Scotland) Invoice. Pic: PA
Mr Mason, who has represented the Glasgow Shettleston constituency since 2011, has drawn ire from former colleagues up to now when he was the one MSP to vote towards the Abortion Providers (Secure Entry Zones) (Scotland) Invoice.
The laws, creating 200m buffer zones round abortion clinics, was designed to guard girls from harassment.
As the brand new legislation got here into pressure final month, Mr Mason joined pro-life campaigners exterior the Scottish parliament in protest towards the brand new zones.
Going ahead, Mr Mason mentioned he stays dedicated to serving his constituents proper by means of to the subsequent Holyrood election in 2026.
Mr Mason added: “I will not be joining any other party and am still SNP in my heart and committed to their success in all future elections and by-elections. I am even willing to help them campaign if they want me to.”
An SNP spokesperson mentioned: “As the disciplinary process includes the right to appeal, the issue remains live and we cannot comment prior to its conclusion.”
