THE local SNP branch of suspended MP Neale Hanvey has made an “urgent” call for the party to reinstate him.

The Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay branch of the SNP have requested that the suspension be lifted in a letter to the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), the Dunfermline Press revealed.

Hanvey was the SNP's candidate for the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency but was dropped on November 26 after antisemitic comments made on social media came to light.

His name remained on the ballot paper and he took the seat from Lesley Laird on December 12.

At the time, Hanvey said he was “genuinely and deeply sorry” for the comments and stated the First Minister, who urged SNP members not to support Hanvey, was “absolutely right” to take a zero-tolerance approach.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon: SNP members should not support suspended candidate

Now, in a letter to the SNP NEC, Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay branch members are calling on the party to overturn the decision.

"The branch calls for an urgent end to Neale's suspension from the party so that he can fully represent us as the SNP MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, thus reflecting the expressed wishes of his electorate," the letter reads.

"This would allow SNP members in the constituency the opportunity to concentrate on their primary aim of campaigning for independence."

The branch's convener, councillor David Barratt added: "Part of it is the absence of any sort of information and clarity as to what is happening.

"This is a cloud over Neale and knowing him personally, I don't think it is fair to have this cloud hanging over him. We thought it was right to just make a stand and say we are still standing by him. I am hopeful other branches will be making similar statements."

READ MORE: SNP conduct committee member resigns over alleged antisemitism

Barratt said Hanvey’s admission of wrongdoing does not mean he is an antisemite.

He continued: "He has apologised and accepted that what he did came under the definition of antisemitism. That said, it doesn't mean he was antisemetic or that there was any intent behind what was said.

"That is the key issue and we are fully supportive of him and passing a motion of confidence in Neale. Anyone locally who knows Neale knows he is a decent person. He is not racist and is far from it. We know him very well and know that he is not.

"The NEC met on Saturday in Glasgow before the march. My understanding is that they did not consider it was appropriate to discuss the matter while there was an ongoing disciplinary procedure."

An SNP spokesperson told the Dunfermline Press: “Anti-Semitism has no place in Scotland and no place in the SNP. Mr Hanvey remains suspended until the complaint is heard under the party’s disciplinary processes.”

They did not respond to a further enquiry asking if there was a timescale for this process.