21:30

More on the story of the SNP candidate for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, Neale Hanvey, who was stripped of his candidacy following alleged antisemitism:

In a statement issued via his Twitter account, Hanvey issued an “unequivocal apology” for posting two items which he now realised were offensive and inappropriate. He said he fully supported the SNP’s decision to remove him as its candidate and suspend his party membership pending investigation.

He confirmed one was a Sputnik article which pictured Soros holding two world leaders as puppets, but did not realise that was an antisemitic trope. “I did not give any thought to Mr Soros’s faith. [I] fully accept that this was wrong,” Hanvey said.

The second post drew parallels between the treatment of Palestinians today with the “unconscionable” treatment of Jews in Europe during the second world war. “This was insensitive, upsetting and deeply offensive”, Hanvey said.

Both posts were “dreadful errors of judgment,” he said. “I accept there may not be the words to express my regret for those I have offended but I am genuinely and deeply sorry.”