A SCOTTISH Labour councillor who suggested Israeli spies might be plotting against the party and interfering in British democracy has been suspended.
Mary Bain Lockhart claimed Jewish newspapers in the UK may be conspiring with the Israeli secret service, Mossad, to stop Jeremy Corbyn becoming prime minister.
Ms Lockhart, who represents Lochgelly, Cardenden and Benarty on Fife Council, was widely criticised after making the allegation in a now-deleted social media post.
The UK’s three leading Jewish newspapers last week published a joint front page warning a Corbyn-led government would pose an “existential threat to Jewish life in this country”.
In response, Ms Lockhart wrote on Facebook: “If the purpose is to generate opposition to anti-semitism, it has backfired spectacularly.
“If it is to get rid of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour Leader, it is unlikely to succeed, and is a shameless piece of cynical opportunism.
“And if it is a Mossad, the Israeli secret service, assisted campaign to prevent the election of a Labour Government pledged to recognise Palestine as a State, it is unacceptable interference in the democracy of Britain.”
She also wrote: ““Israel is a racist State. And since the Palestinians are also Semites, it is an anti-Semitic State. It is time we stopped propitiating.”
The comments led to a formal complaint being lodged with Scottish Labour general secretary Brian Roy by the former Labour MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, Thomas Docherty.
Ms Lockhart’s suspension comes as Labour continues to wrestle with anti-Semitism in its ranks, with infighting among MPs exacerbated by the party’s ruling National Executive Committee refusing to adopt an international standard definition of anti-semitism.
The NEC’s decision has led to further infighting, with shadow Chancellor John McDonnell now reported to have criticised Mr Corbyn’s handling of the crisis.
Paul Masteron, the Tory MP for East Renfrewshire, said Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard had been too slow to act in the matter.
He said: "Given how offensive Mary Lockhart’s comments were, it’s no wonder this action has eventually been taken.
"But rather than taking days to react, Richard Leonard needed to speak out against this behaviour immediately after it happened.
"Instead we have continued silence from him and a failure to prove to the Jewish community that he and his party are taking this issue seriously.
"It’s clear to the vast majority of people that Mary Lockhart is no longer fit to hold office, and Scottish Labour must understand that a suspension doesn’t go far enough."
A Labour spokesman said: “The Labour Party takes all complaints of anti-Semitism extremely seriously and we are committed to challenging and campaigning against it in all its forms.
“All complaints about anti-Semitism are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken.”
On her Facebook page, Ms Lockhart wrote: “Following my suspension from the Labour Party to allow consideration of whether or not one of my Facebook posts breached the Labour Party's rules in respect of anti-semitism, I have deleted the post.
“I will not be commenting further on this is any other matter until a judgement has been made. I remain a supporter of the Labour Party and of its current leadership.”
The offending post.
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