Ryan Houghton, the Conservative candidate for Aberdeen North, has been suspended by the Scottish Conservative Party after allegations emerged of antisemitic, Islamophobic, and homophobic comments made seven years ago. The party confirmed the suspension on Monday following a report by The National, which detailed the remarks.
In the blog posts, Houghton questioned the Holocaust, stating there was 'no credible evidence to suggest the Holocaust did not happen' but added he found 'some of the events fabricated.' He also expressed views against homosexuality, calling it 'not good for the human race,' and described Islam's core teachings as aiming for 'world domination,' referencing a conspiracy theory about 'Eurabia.'
Houghton apologised for any hurt caused but insisted the comments were taken out of context. He said he was participating in political discussions on an online forum at age 20 and clarified he strongly opposed Holocaust denial. The Scottish Conservatives described the comments as 'unacceptable' and withdrew support for his campaign pending an investigation.
The controversy follows recent Labour candidate resignations over antisemitism, including Kate Ramsden in Aberdeenshire and Frances Hoole in a separate incident. Houghton remains a candidate but without party backing.
