Alleged to have [shock!] shared a link to an RT article providing a counter-narrative to the lockstep UK media swallowing the govt's bogus, unbelievable story without question. And the crime of doubting the fake a/s smear campaign of course. How is this grounds for suspension? Proper McCarthyite stuff: "Are you now, or have you ever been a supporter of Vladimir Putin? Answer the question!" Fascist undertones to Rachel Reeves' comments to BBC Breakfast:

'We are not willing to tolerate people who don’t share our values, don’t share the values of the British public so that’s why we’ve taken swift action as soon as that information came to light to suspend the candidate. [...] We’re not going to stand by people who are sharing pro-Russian sentiment – that is not Labour values and that’s why he was quickly suspended from the Labour Party.' - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0vvjzw5ejno

Original article (subscriber message obscures it, but was able to copy/paste the text)

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https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/politics/6506525/andy-brown-labour-aberdeenshire-moray-suspended/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

Exclusive: Labour ditches Aberdeenshire North and Moray East candidate after pro-Russian posts row

Andy Brown shared a link to state media outlet Russia Today doubting Vladimir Putin’s regime’s role in the 2018 Salisbury poisonings.
By Justin Bowie
June 18 2024, 10:10 pm

Labour has ditched its candidate for the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East seat for historic “pro-Russian” posts made on social media, the Press and Journal can reveal.

Andy Brown shared a link to state media outlet Russia Today doubting Vladimir Putin’s regime’s role in the 2018 Salisbury poisonings.

The article’s headline suggests the Novichok nerve agent weapon used in a bid to kill former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia did not come from Russia.

He also shared a post on social media which implies then Prime Minister Theresa May was hiding vital information about the attacks.

We can now reveal party bosses were also spooked by another post he shared which dismisses accusations of antisemitism against Labour.

The post – quoting a historian – suggests Jewish voters in Britain were angered by Mr Corbyn’s support for Palestine in the Middle East.
‘Suspended pending investigation’

Labour bosses confirmed Mr Brown had been suspended from the party pending an investigation, meaning support for him has been withdrawn.

Since the deadline for candidates has passed, Mr Brown will now run as an independent and Labour will not formally be standing anyone in the seat.

The SNP was in a similar situation in 2019, when Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath candidate Neale Hanvey was suspended by the party after the deadline for candidates had passed.

A Labour spokesperson told the P&J: “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.”

It’s understood party bosses judged the posts to fall below the standard expected of a candidate.

Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she was “very pleased” that “swift action” had been taken.
Two-horse race

The Aberdeenshire North and Moray East constituency is expected to be a tight two-horse race between the SNP and Tories.
Douglas Ross is standing for the Tories in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East. Image: Shutterstock.

Outgoing Tory leader Douglas Ross picked himself as the candidate in a shock move during the campaign.

He replaced hospitalised colleague David Duguid, who was told by the party he could not run despite insisting he still wanted to.

Mr Brown’s pro-Russia remarks were condemned by North East Conservative MSP Douglas Lumsden earlier.
‘Voters will be appalled’

He said: “This extremist Labour candidate is straight out of Corbyn-era central casting.

“Voters in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East will be appalled at Andy Brown spouting ludicrous conspiracy theories about the Salisbury poisoning.”

It comes as two SNP candidates in the north-east and Northern Isles also became embroiled in similar rows over “pro-Russian” posts.

Orkney and Shetland hopeful Robert Leslie made similar comments to Mr Brown, casting doubts over Russia’s responsibility for the Salisbury poisoning.

He suggested ex-Tory foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind had been sent out to “lie on behalf of the UK Government” about the Kremlin’s role.

Meanwhile, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine candidate Glen Reynolds said in 2015 he was “somewhat cynical” about anti-Putin commentary.

The SNP councillor also advised followers on social media to read a speech by Mr Putin, describing it as “significant and illuminating”.

His party said Mr Reynolds was trying to sound warnings about Western foreign policy decisions which could embolden the Russian leader.

The SNP also hit out at the Tories for accepting money from Russian oligarchs until the invasion of Ukraine.