A WEST FIFE MP who was suspended by the SNP over anti-Semitic social media posts has been welcomed back to the party.

Neale Hanvey, who represents the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency, was readmitted formally this week and will now sit as an SNP MP in the House of Commons.

Mr Hanvey has sat as an independent MP since his election in late 2019 but he has voted consistently with the SNP parliamentary group.

He was suspended by the party during the run-up to December’s General Election over comments he made on social media two years ago which were said to have an anti-Semitic nature.

Mr Hanvey went on to win the seat, defeating Labour’s Lesley Laird, but after an inquiry was given a six-month suspension backdated to November 28 and was ordered to undertake an educational course.

The new MP made an "unequivocal apology" for "dreadful errors of judgement" after promoting an article about the Jewish financier George Soros depicting him as a puppet-master, an anti-Semitic trope.

Mr Hanvey said: "I am delighted to have been welcomed back into the SNP and the SNP parliamentary group.

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has supported me through this challenging time, and in particular to Danny Stone, the chief executive of the Antisemitism Policy Trust, for his support and guidance over the past few months.

"I look forward to being part of the strong SNP representation in Westminster as I continue my work as an MP standing up for my constituents and Scotland."

An SNP spokesperson said: "Neale Hanvey’s six-month suspension from the SNP ended on 27 May, having met the requirements set out by the Member Conduct Committee.

"His application to now join the SNP Westminster Group has been accepted and he will now sit as an SNP MP.

"We thank the Antisemitism Policy Trust for its work and all that they do to educate and empower decision-makers to address anti-semitism."