THE National’s front page made waves in Westminster this week – and even featured on the BBC’s Politics Live.

Our splash about axed Tory candidate Ryan Houghton, who was suspended from the party after we uncovered a series of old anti-Semitic posts made on a martial arts forum, was used during questioning of Justice Minister Chris Philip.

Host Jo Coburn asked why Houghton had been suspended instead of expelled.

Philip replied: “I haven’t seen the comments and I don’t know. Clearly anyone that commits anti-Semitic abuse or racist abuse of any kind has a very serious case to answer.”

Pressed again on whether a suspension is too lenient, the minister said: “I haven’t seen the quotes so it would be wrong to comment.”

You can watch the full exchange here.

READ MORE: Labour Holocaust survivor 'sickened' by Ryan Houghton's posts

In a statement released on social media late on Monday night, Houghton accused The National of taking his comments, including his call for a debate on whether or not the Holocaust had been exaggerated, out of context.

The dumped candidate also apologised unreservedly “for any hurt now caused by these comments”.