THE SNP has challenged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to drop a Tory Westminster candidate who questioned Scottish government aid to Gaza.

An article — branded Islamophobic by First Minister Humza Yousaf — in Saturday’s Telegraph, raised questions about the Scottish government’s decision to award £250,000 to the United Nations Relief & Works Agency (UNRWA).

The newspaper claimed Mr Yousaf had overruled Civil Service recommendations to instead award between £100,000 and £200,000 to UN children’s charity Unicef.

An email shared in the article appeared to show Mr Yousaf pushing for the award to be made to coincide with UNRWA officials meeting with him.

Tory MSP Stephen Kerr, the party’s Westminster candidate for North Tayside in the next general election, was quoted in the article and has now come under fire for suggesting that Mr Yousaf had a “clear conflict of interest” as he had in-laws trapped in Gaza at the time.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, SNP deputy leader Keith Brown said: “Look at the article, look at the consequences of the article, look at what Stephen Kerr’s done, look at him smirking on TV today knowing exactly the reaction he was going to get in relation to this.

“I think it’s a despicable way to go about their business.

“I don’t think Stephen Kerr is fit to be a candidate at the Westminster election. The Prime Minister should condemn the article and make sure Stephen Kerr is not allowed to stand as a Westminster candidate.”

MSP Mr Brown added: “This hate and division has to stop.”

Responding on Twitter, Mr Kerr said: “What a ridiculous response we’ve seen over the past few days. The SNP are snapping out at any scrutiny and criticism. I repeat: I’m not doing my job if I’m not holding ScotGov to account for their actions.”