THE SNP MSP who had the whip removed over comments he made about Gaza came under renewed criticism today after saying he “completely stands by” the “deeply offensive” remarks.

John Mason said he did not expect his party to suspend the whip due to his tweet and believed he had done the “right thing.”

But SNP Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee said the Glasgow Shettleston MSP’s comments were “deeply offensive, hugely inaccurate and it’s not in line with the values of the SNP.”