Labour Suspends Candidate Andy Brown Over Pro-Russian Social Media Posts

Labour has suspended parliamentary candidate Andy Brown due to his sharing of pro-Russian content on social media, including disputing the origin of the Novichok nerve agent used in the Salisbury poisonings. The suspension comes weeks before the general election, where Brown remains on the ballot as an independent candidate.

Labour Suspends Candidate Andy Brown Over Pro-Russian Social Media Posts

Andy Brown, a parliamentary candidate for Labour in the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East constituency, has been suspended by the party after reportedly sharing pro-Russian material on social media. Brown posted an article from Russian state media outlet RT in April 2018, claiming that the Novichok nerve agent used in the Salisbury poisonings was not produced in Russia but instead in the US, UK, and other NATO states.

The suspension comes just over two weeks before the general election on July 4, where Brown's name will still appear next to the Labour logo on the ballot. If elected, he will serve as an independent MP.

In addition to the RT article, Brown shared a post suggesting that former Prime Minister Theresa May was withholding critical information about the poisonings and another post downplaying antisemitism allegations against the Labour Party. The Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, has emphasized stringent standards for its candidates and MPs.

Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor, stated that it was right for Labour to act swiftly in removing support for Brown. Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross and SNP candidate Seamus Logan are also contesting the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East seat. The official inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess, who died from Novichok exposure in 2018, is set to begin in October.