Bradford councillor suspended over anti-Semitism allegations

A BRADFORD councillor has insisted he is not guilty of anti-Semitism after an investigation into his views was launched by the Labour Party.
Coun Khadim Hussain during his time as Lord MayorCoun Khadim Hussain during his time as Lord Mayor
Coun Khadim Hussain during his time as Lord Mayor

Coun Khadim Hussain promised to “vigorously” defend himself over concerns raised about posts on his Facebook page.

The Keighley Central ward councillor and former lord mayor said: “I will be vigorously defending myself against these allegations.

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“I have a strong record of opposing all forms of discrimination. I am fiercely opposed to any form of anti-Semitism or indeed Islamophobia.

“Whilst I was lord mayor of Bradford I worked closely with the Chief Rabbi in the city.”

He said he would provide detailed responses to the allegations in the next 24 hours.

Coun Hussain was due to stand again in May’s local elections but it is understood Labour’s rules would stop any member under suspension from being a party candidate.

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A Labour Party spokesman said: “Khadim Hussain is suspended from the Labour Party pending an investigation.”

The incident is the latest in a string of anti-Semitism allegations to hit Labour in recent weeks.

Labour this month expelled Gerry Downing, a man it had previously kicked out and then readmitted, over his comments on the 9/11 attacks and anti-Semitic articles on his website.

Vicki Kirby, the party’s vice chairwoman in Woking, was suspended over comments made on Twitter.

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Speaking in the Commons today, Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Anti-Semitism is an absolute cancer in our societies and we should know that when it grows it is the signal of many even worse things happening to ethnic groups all over our country.

“There is, sadly a growth of anti-Semitism in our country. We do see it in terms of attacks on Jewish people and Jewish students and it absolutely has to be stamped out.

“We should all of us, whatever organisation we are responsible for, make sure that happens.

“I have to say we do see a growth in support for segregation and indeed for anti-Semitism in parts of the Labour Party and I say to the leader of the party opposite it is his party and he should sort it out.”