SNP MSP expelled from party over Israel social media post

An MSP expelled from the SNP over a social media post about the Israel-Hamas conflict has said he is "disappointed" over the decision.

John Mason, 67, initially lost the whip and has now been booted from the party after posting on X in August: "If Israel wanted to commit genocide, they would have killed ten times as many."

The Glasgow Shettleston MSP told Sky News he stood by his comment, which was made amid a row over a Scottish government meeting with Israel's deputy ambassador to the UK, Daniela Grudsky.

Following his expulsion at the weekend, Mr Mason said: "I am very disappointed by all this.

"In the past the SNP has been a 'big tent' tolerant party, allowing a wide range of views within it as long as we all agreed on the goal of independence.

"My hope still is that the SNP will return to that position."

Mr Mason, who will now sit in Holyrood as an independent, has three weeks to appeal the decision.

He said: "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 came amid criticism over a Scottish government meeting with Israeli diplomat Ms Grudsky.

The meeting only came to light after Ms Grudsky posted a picture on X with External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson.

First Minister John Swinney claimed it was "necessary" and allowed his government to directly put across the need for an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza.

Mr Mason also met with Ms Grudsky during her stay in Scotland and shared a picture online, which led to him writing the post that saw him lose the party whip.

Mr Mason was expelled following a meeting with the SNP's member conduct committee on Saturday.

He posted a copy of the correspondence received to Facebook, which ruled he had breached the members' code of conduct.

It read: "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 also of the view that the misrepresentation of party policy in relation to Israel and Palestine was unhelpful and also potentially damaging."

It added: "The committee felt that, despite being given the opportunity to do otherwise in both your written and oral evidence, you showed no contrition, nor any awareness of the effect on the party 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."

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Speaking to Sky News after being suspended, Mr Mason said it was not his intention to upset people, but said he is "not afraid" of speaking out if he feels "something important needs to be said".

Mr Mason, who has represented the Glasgow Shettleston constituency since 2011, has drawn ire from former colleagues in the past when he was the only MSP to vote against the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill.

The legislation, creating 200m buffer zones around abortion clinics, was designed to protect women from harassment.

As the new law came into force last month, Mr Mason joined pro-life campaigners outside the Scottish parliament in protest against the new zones.

Going forward, Mr Mason said he remains committed to serving his constituents right through to the next 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 said: "As the disciplinary process includes the right to appeal, the issue remains live and we cannot comment prior to its conclusion."