Historian David Starkey compares SNP to Nazis

CONTROVERSIAL historian David Starkey has come under fire after comparing the SNP to the Nazis and likening the Saltire to the swastika.

Historian David Starkey. Picture: Getty

Starkey suggested the SNP believes the English are responsible for Scotland’s woes, similar to the way Adolf Hitler blamed the Jews for Germany’s economic ruin after the First World War.

He said that both the SNP and the Nazis have as a symbol a “twisted cross” and “a passionate belief in economic self-­sufficiency; known by the Nazis as autarky and the Scots as oil”.

He said: “You have as a symbol the twisted cross – the Saltire or the swastika.

“You have a passionate belief in economic self-sufficiency: known by the Nazis as autarky and the Scots as oil.

“And also, you have the propensity of your elderly and middle-aged male supporters to expose their knees.”

However, SNP MP Kirsten Oswald also said that Starkey’s “unsavoury and absurd views” showed that he had no understanding of the SNP and of last years’ independence referendum.

She said: “David Starkey’s comments are irresponsible; deeply offensive to the Jewish community, the half of the Scottish electorate who voted SNP last month and 60 per cent who currently intend to vote SNP next year; and have absolutely no basis in reality. He has become little more than a serial utterer of bile and bilge.

“The independence movement in Scotland is entirely civic and peaceful – and last year’s referendum was a celebration of democracy.

“David Starkey – who has described Scotland as a ‘feeble little country’ in the past – has previously prompted outrage from the Glasgow Jewish Education Forum for similar comments, but it seems he has not yet got the message that there is no appetite for these unsavoury and absurd views.”