A Labour candidate has been suspended just four days after the party’s Chief Whip joined him to campaign ahead of the local elections.
Sir Alan Campbell joined candidate Abdur Razaq on the doorstep in North Tyneside on Friday, pictured beaming in the Preston Grange ward. However, just four days later Labour has been forced to suspend Mr Razaq after the Express unearthed eyebrow-raising anti-Israel posts.
Just six days after Hamas carried out its terrifying massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, Mr Razaq changed his profile picture to a ‘Free Palestine’ graphic. The Labour candidate then shared an image accusing Israel of being a ‘terrorist nation’, a week before the Middle Eastern country launched its ground invasion retaliation against Hamas.
Responding to the findings, Jewish Tory MP Andrew Percy described the posts as “truly disgusting”, and blasted the top Labour MP for campaigning for him.
“Coming at a time of record anti-Jewish racism, these examples from a Labour candidate are not only shocking, they are truly disgusting.
“Nobody should be campaigning for someone who has promoted such hate.”
Conservative Party vice chair Angela Richardson said: “Once again, it is clear that Labour has not changed one bit.
“Sir Keir has sat idly by whilst members of his own party spew disgusting antisemitism, and now his own Chief Whip has personally been trying to get one of those responsible for views not fit for public life elected.
“Sir Keir should urgently investigate how this candidate was selected in the first place.”
Following the Express’s revelations, it’s understood the Labour Party has now pulled all support for Abdur Razaq and will revive no more backing for his campaign.
However, as with Labour’s Rochdale by-election fiasco, he will still appear on ballot papers when local residents go to vote.
It’s further understood that Mr Razaq has been administratively suspended from membership of the Labour Party, pending investigation, however, the party would not comment on the individual case because of their disciplinary proceedings.
A Labour Party spokesman said: “Thanks to Keir Starmer ’s leadership, the party has ripped out antisemitism at its roots.
“We will continue to fight antisemitism and all forms of hate speech every day of the week, it has no place in the Labour Party.”
