Tories allow candidate ousted by Labour over ‘Zionist’ posts to stand in local elections
Shakeel Munir Hussain was dropped as Labour's candidate in Stockton-on-Tees election, but now stands for the Conservatives.
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
The Conservatives are standing a candidate in next week’s local elections who was dropped by Labour after they were alerted to his social media posts, including Rothschild conspiracy theories and claims about governments being “controlled by Zionist money.”
Shakeel Munir Hussain was ousted as Labour’s candidate in Stockton-on-Tees after party officials were alerted to evidence of likes and shares on Facebook including comparisons of Israel to the Nazis, suggestions that Israel is in league with ISIS, and claims that “the world knows all too well that their governments are controlled by Zionist money.”
Despite the posts, Hussain has now been declared as the Tory candidate in the Ropner ward in the Stockton-on-Tees local election.
Local activists and campaigner against antisemitism Steve Cooke raised concerns about the decision by Conservatives to apparently turn a blind eye to Hussain’s previous posts.
Cooke tweeted:”Improved due diligence checks picked up multiple antisemitic posts by Shakeel Hussain and halted his application to be a Labour candidate in this year’s Stockton Council election.
“So it surprised me to see him standing for the Tories in Ropner ward. Didn’t they ask why he left.”
Amongst Hussain’s posts was a share a claim made online that across the world “governments are controlled by Zionist money.”
And an image of Jews murdered by the Nazis in 1940, and a photo on a group of Israelis seated looking out towards Gaza during a time of conflict.
Tony Riordan, Stockton Conservative Group leader was approached by Jewish News for comment.
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