In old Tweets which have recently resurfaced, Stephanie Callaghan claimed Theresa May’s approach to denying a second independence vote in 2017 were the same as Hitler “setting the scene” for the Jewish Holocaust. In a now-deleted Twitter post, the Uddingston and Bellshill election candidate wrote on Twitter: “Tory propaganda provides a window into future plans: stamp on democracy.
“Hitler did same: set scene 4 Jewish Holocaust to lower opposition.”
The 39-year-old was a South Lanarkshire Council councillor when Mrs May said a repeat of the 2014 referendum was not appropriate because the country was already going through a huge change in terms of Brexit.
Ms May said in March 2017: “My message is very clear. Now is not the time. I’ve explained the reasons why.
“We should be working to get the right deal for Scotland and the UK with our future partnership with the European Union.
“It would be unfair to the people of Scotland at the moment that they would be being asked to make a crucial decision without the information they need to make that decision.”
The former South Lanarkshire Councillor is fighting to replace Richard Lyle, who represented the Uddingston and Bellshill constituency since 2016.
Annie Wells, Scottish Conservative regional list candidate for Glasgow, said: “It’s absolutely appalling to compare stopping another referendum to Nazi propaganda and Hitler’s actions.
“What kind of warped mind would think opposing independence is anything like the Holocaust?
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The Campaign Against Antisemitism also condemned the tweet, and a spokesman, added: “To make such a comparison is disgraceful and wounding, showing incredible ignorance.
“There is no comparison between political tensions in the UK today and Nazi Germany’s systematic destruction of democracy and murder of six million Jewish men, women and children.
“Politicians must set an example by learning the lessons of the Holocaust — not diminishing the memory of those innocents who were slaughtered by using the Holocaust to score political points.
“To make such a comparison is disgraceful and wounding, showing incredible ignorance.”
An SNP source, said: “Stephanie has apologised for the Tweet and apologised for any offence caused in relation to it.”
In a statement, Ms Callaghan said: “The words in this old tweet were poorly chosen and I apologise for the offence caused.
“I have deleted the tweet.”
