Labour Member Who Joined Tories and Won Council Seat Now suspended for Anti-Semitism

Labour Member Who Joined Tories and Won Council Seat Now suspended for Anti-Semitism

A newly elected councillor has been suspended by the Conservatives pending an investigation over anti-Semitic social media posts.

Shakeel Hussain, who won a seat on Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, has had the Tory whip removed while an internal party inquiry examines old Facebook posts referring to Israel and "Zionist murderers".

Jewish News had previously revealed Hussain had been blocked from standing as a Labour candidate in local elections, but was approved by the Tories.

After he was elected, Stockton Conservative Group leader Tony Riordan had appeared to welcome Hussain as a councillor. Speaking in the House of Commons, the Labour MP for Stockton North, Alex Cunningham, said "On Friday morning, Stockton Conservatives celebrated the election of Shakeel Hussain, despite his published statement that Israelis were 'Zionist murderers'."

"He was rejected by the Labour party for his anti-Semitic views", Cunningham added, and "appears to have conned" the Tories.

Commons leader Penny Mordaunt said it was a matter for the Conservative party chairman.

"We have a proper process to look at all of these matters." she told MPs.

Before the local elections, a Conservative spokesperson said "We do not support the views shared in these social media posts. It is too late to remove Mr Hussain from the ballot paper under electoral law, but he would not be allowed to join the Conservative group on the council, if elected, until any investigations had been completed."

Hussain told the BBC he would offer his full assistance to the inquiry. "Once the investigation is complete I will then consider making a public statement." he added.

The Conservative councillor suspended earlier this year over social media posts, including one condemning "Zionist murderers" has been allowed back into the party after apologising and insisting "I am not anti-Semitic. I want to make amends."

Now in a statement Hussain, who claimed not to recognise other inflammatory posts on his Facebook as his, said "It is with deep regret between July 2014 and March 2015, whilst a member of the Labour Party, I engaged in discussion on social media regarding the Palestinian and Israeli conflict. The main purpose of which was to highlight the unnecessary death and suffering on all sides of the conflict. However, it has now been determined that I transgressed into the area of anti-Semitism on four occasions and (it) is wholly unacceptable within the Conservative Party, and in wider society. When these matters were raised, I engaged fully and openly with the thorough investigation conducted by the Conservative Party. I would like to apologise unreservedly for any offence I have caused. I am not anti-Semitic. I fully accept the wrongs I have caused, and I want to make amends."

Hussain also admitted he was unaware of the IHRA definition in the past, which is adopted by the Conservative Party, and vowed to undergo diversity training.