SNP MSP Tom Arthur condemns dad's Facebook message in 'antisemitism' row

Scottish Government minister Tom Arthur has condemned a Facebook post by his father that showed the Star of David intertwined with a swastika.

Arthur, the Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance, posted a statement on social media after it emerged that a police report had been made about the graphic.

It was shared by his father, Tom Arthur Snr, and included the words "Nazism = Zionism".

The post was reported to Police Scotland by a former police officer.

The force confirmed it had "received a complaint which is being investigated as a communications offence".

The SNP said it "stands firmly against anti-Semitism" and Arthur's father had left the party.

A spokesperson said: "The social media post is unacceptable and would have been subject to disciplinary investigation had the individual concerned not resigned their party membership with immediate effect."

Arthur, who has been an MSP since 2016, stated: "As an SNP MSP, I stand against discrimination of any kind. The online post shared by a member of my family falls far short of that position and I condemn the views expressed.

"Six months on from Hamas's barbaric terrorist attack which claimed the lives of more than 1000 innocent civilians, I will continue to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and for a permanent two-state solution to pave the way towards peace."