Former SNP MSP warns Holyrood has too many politicians who 'blindly follow the party line'
A former SNP MSP has warned Holyrood suffers from too many MSPs who "blindly follow" whatever their party does.
John Mason was booted out of the Nationalists last year for a social media post in which he claimed there was "no genocide" in Gaza. He previously caused controversy in 2017 when he suggested some people view IRA killers as "freedom fighters".
The veteran MSP for Glasgow Shettleston will retire from the Scottish Parliament next year and currently sits as an independent.
He admitted his stance of speaking his mind had got him "into a lot of trouble" during his career - but insisted "we could do with a bit more of it".
"Independence is a word that used in different ways, but I do think there's a problem in here with too many people just blindly following the party line," he told Holyrood magazine.
"That's got me into a lot of trouble, I'll take that risk. But we could do with a bit more of it – you can be faithful to your party and still be quite critical or take like a different view. Parliament benefits from that, and you see it some of the committees – the finance committee often take quite an independent line on things. I'd encourage people in that space, I think.
"The danger is people come in and go up in the party and they're just totally fanatical about the party, right or wrong. If the party changes its policy, does a U-turn tomorrow then they just do a U-turn as well.
"There are people in here – Richard Leonard or Alec Rowley, Kenny Gibson, Michelle Thomson – there's a number across the parties who are just a bit more independently-minded. I'd be encouraging anyone new to follow that."
Mason had the SNP whip withdrawn in August last year after he claimed on social media: "If Israel wanted to commit genocide, they would have killed 10 times as many".
The remarks prompted a backlash - but the MSP for Glasgow Shettleston refused to apologise.
Ivan McKee, the SNP public finance minister, described Mason's comments at the time as "deeply offensive" and claimed the MSP should "educate himself".
Mason announced in October he had been expelled from the SNP following a meeting of its conduct committee.
He said: "Very disappointed to be expelled from the SNP over my comments on Israel, Gaza, and whether or not there has been genocide.
"I continue to believe that we should be able to tolerate a variety of views within the party as long as we are all committed to Scottish independence."
Mason had originally shared a message in August welcoming the chance to meet the Israeli ambassador to London.
He also said: 'I personally do not believe that Israel has tried to commit, has committed, or is committing genocide. They certainly have the ability to kill many more Palestinians than they have done. That is not to say that the loss of life already is not too many.'
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