AN SNP councillor has defended his decision to share a blog that cites Hitler and Mein Kampf to attack a Jewish trade union official.
The blog, written by the anonymous Grouse Beater, criticised GMB organiser Rhea Wolfson and her role in organising the equal pay strikes that saw 8000 women take to the streets of Glasgow last week.
It says Wolfson’s “voice is the stuff of fascist demagoguery,” and goes on to say that Hitler "accused ‘The Jew’ of gradually assuming leadership of the trade union movement."
“Hitler wanted a blindly obedient fighting force loyal only to the national leader of government.
“Whether or not Wolfson is intellectually aware of Hitler’s outlook is unknown but she certainly knows how to make the most of it...”
Wolfson was sent copy of the blog post by its author on Sunday morning. She said the writer was “defending trade unions by warning people not to allow Jews to take them over”.
She added: “It’s profoundly disturbing watching people attack trade unions – an essential part of democracy– for their own political/ constitutional ends but this is another fascist beast entirely.”
The blog was shared on the social media channels of the SNP Edinburgh East, and Livingston East branches, and on the Facebook page of West Lothian councillor Frank Anderson.
Yesterday, Labour MSP Neil Findlay wrote to Nicola Sturgeon demanding an “investigation into a nationalist blog which cites Mein Kampf and claims a Jewish trade union official in Scotland is ‘making the most’ of antisemitism.”
Councillor Anderson told the National: “Firstly, I don’t accept that it was an anti-Semitic article, nor was I aware of any of Miss Wolfson’s Jewish heritage.
“The article was, in context, about the self serving attitude of Labour regarding the Equal Pay struggle. It put into perspective the role of the GMB and its officials and the hypocrisy or selective amnesia of those who have thwarted the women getting their fair pay.
“My comment was that in my opinion, Momentum (Campaign for Socialism) are trying to use the unions to undermine the SNP and in particular the Scottish Government.”
He added: “I have never been antisemitic in my life. I think Findlay is trying to read something into this which is not there.”
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