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Tory candidate for Aberdeen North dropped over anti-Semitic comments | Tory candidate for Aberdeen North dropped over anti-Semitic comments |
(about 8 hours later) | |
A Conservative party election candidate has been suspended over alleged anti-Semitic comments he made seven years ago. | A Conservative party election candidate has been suspended over alleged anti-Semitic comments he made seven years ago. |
Ryan Houghton, a candidate in the Aberdeen North constituency, confirmed his suspension on Monday after The National published the allegations. | |
He said the party had withdrawn support for his campaign while an investigation took place. | He said the party had withdrawn support for his campaign while an investigation took place. |
The Scottish Conservatives said the comments made were "unacceptable". | The Scottish Conservatives said the comments made were "unacceptable". |
Mr Houghton released a statement on his Twitter feed, saying the comments were taken "out of context". | Mr Houghton released a statement on his Twitter feed, saying the comments were taken "out of context". |
He said: "At the age of 20 on an online forum, I took part in a range of political discussions. These included terrorism, LGBT rights and anti-Semitism." | He said: "At the age of 20 on an online forum, I took part in a range of political discussions. These included terrorism, LGBT rights and anti-Semitism." |
He said that in one of the threads he had discussed freedom of speech and he had discussed comments made by Holocaust denier David Irving. | He said that in one of the threads he had discussed freedom of speech and he had discussed comments made by Holocaust denier David Irving. |
He said he made clear in subsequent posts that he was not defending the views and strongly opposed Holocaust denial. | He said he made clear in subsequent posts that he was not defending the views and strongly opposed Holocaust denial. |
He added: "I apologise unreservedly for any hurt now caused by these comments and have been in contact with members of the Jewish community in Aberdeen." | He added: "I apologise unreservedly for any hurt now caused by these comments and have been in contact with members of the Jewish community in Aberdeen." |
'Blogs unacceptable' | 'Blogs unacceptable' |
A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: "The comments contained in these blogs are unacceptable and Mr Houghton has been suspended as a member of the Scottish Conservative party as a result. | A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: "The comments contained in these blogs are unacceptable and Mr Houghton has been suspended as a member of the Scottish Conservative party as a result. |
"The party has also withdrawn its support for his candidacy in Aberdeen North. | "The party has also withdrawn its support for his candidacy in Aberdeen North. |
"The Scottish Conservatives deplore all forms of Islamophobia, homophobia and anti-Semitism." | "The Scottish Conservatives deplore all forms of Islamophobia, homophobia and anti-Semitism." |
It comes just a week Labour candidate Kate Ramsden quit in Aberdeenshire following a row over anti-Semitism. | It comes just a week Labour candidate Kate Ramsden quit in Aberdeenshire following a row over anti-Semitism. |
She stood down in the Gordon constituency after the Jewish Chronicle highlighted a blog in which she compared Israel to an abused child who becomes an abusive adult. | She stood down in the Gordon constituency after the Jewish Chronicle highlighted a blog in which she compared Israel to an abused child who becomes an abusive adult. |
Another Scottish Labour candidate, Frances Hoole, was also been dropped over a social media post attacking her SNP opponent. | Another Scottish Labour candidate, Frances Hoole, was also been dropped over a social media post attacking her SNP opponent. |