Labour’s Lord Ahmed furious after suspension over ‘Obama bounty’ story

Lord Ahmed yesterday strenuously denied making the comments at a reception in Pakistan, stating categorically that he had been “misquoted” by a local newspaper and describing the reports as “a fabrication” of his words.

The Express Tribune quoted the peer – who lives in Rotherham and is a prominent figure in South Yorkshire politics – offering cash at a reception in Haripur on Friday for the capture of Mr Obama and White House predecessor George Bush. The newspaper said he was speaking in direct response to the reward being offered by the US for the capture of a prominent Pakistani radical, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, who founded the extremist group blamed by India for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Labour moved swiftly yesterday to suspend the peer, pending an investigation into his speech.

“If these comments are accurate we utterly condemn these remarks which are totally unacceptable,” a party spokeswoman said. “The international community is rightly doing all in its power to seek justice for the victims of the Mumbai bombings and halt terrorism.”

Labour leader Ed Miliband confirmed Lord Ahmed had “been suspended pending an investigation”, and said: “We need to know if his comments were accurate.”

But the peer complained that party chiefs had not spoken to him before announcing the move, and that British media had picked up the Pakistani report without checking with him if it was true. “I did not offer a bounty,” he said. “I said that there have been war crimes committed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and those people who have got strong allegations against them – George W Bush and Tony Blair – have been involved in illegal wars and should be brought to justice. I do not think there’s anything wrong with that.”

After returning to Britain last night, the peer added: “It’s unfortunate people didn’t check with me. Because of the newspaper reports, the party has suspended me. I respect Labour Party rules and I will appear before any committee the party wishes me to.”

Yorkshire’s newest MP George Galloway – who was sworn in at Parliament yesterday – said Labour’s decision to suspend Lord Ahmed was “suicide” and suggested the peer defect to his Respect party.