Labour suspends candidate over 'pro-Russian' post

Labour has suspended one of its candidates after reports he shared "pro-Russian" material online.

Andy Brown, who is standing in Aberdeen North and Moray East, also shared a post that appeared to downplay allegations of antisemitism against Labour, as first reported by the Press and Journal.

A Labour spokesperson said he had been suspended pending an investigation.

Weeks after the Salisbury poisonings Mr Brown shared an article on social media in April 2018 from the Russian state media outlet RT. It claimed the "toxin" used in the Salisbury poisonings was "never produced in Russia, but was in service in the US, UK, and other NATO states".

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Separately in April 2018 he also shared a quote from a Jewish historian that said "the real issue... is that right-wing Jews in the Labour party and outside the party object to the fact that Jeremy Corbyn is a consistent supporter of Palestinian rights".

A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: "Andy Brown has been administratively suspended from the Labour Party pending investigation. We have taken the decision to withdraw support from a Parliamentary candidate during a General Election.

"Anas Sarwar and Keir Starmer have changed the Labour Party and said that every candidate and MP would operate to the highest standards. This action shows that they meant it."

The deadline for political nominations has closed. That means Mr Brown will still appear next to the Labour logo on the ballot paper on 4 July but will stand as an independent if elected.

The Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross is also a candidate in Aberdeen North and Moray East as well as the SNP's Seamus Logan.

A full list of candidates is available on the BBC News website.