A FRONTBENCH Nats MP has been sacked after backing a campaign to sue a party colleague.
Neale Hanvey was removed as the SNP’s vaccines spokesman at Westminster after he refused to apologise to Aberdeen North MP Kirsty Blackman for his behaviour.
Mr Hanvey, who represents Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, posted “speak clear and stay strong” on a crowdfunder page raising cash to bring a defamation case against Ms Blackman.
It’s linked to the ongoing transphobia spat between Ms Blackman and Joanna Cherry – also ousted this week from the SNP frontbench – although the crowdfunder was for English activist-lawyer Sarah Phillimore.
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An SNP spokesman said: “Neale Hanvey was given the opportunity to apologise for his actions, which are incompatible with the responsibilities of a frontbench spokesperson, including the requirement for teamwork and collective responsibility.
“He failed to do so and he has been removed from his position.”
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Mr Hanvey was previously suspended from the SNP for anti-Semitic web posts, winning his Fife seat in the 2019 general election as an independent before being readmitted to the party.
His sacking comes amid major tensions within the party over trans rights, the path to a second independence vote and Holyrood’s Alex Salmond inquiry.
The Sun have approached Mr Hanvey for comment.