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| Naz Shah suspended by Labour party amid antisemitism row | Naz Shah suspended by Labour party amid antisemitism row |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Naz Shah, the Bradford West MP accused of antisemitism, has been suspended from the Labour party “by mutual agreement” after David Cameron said it was “extraordinary” that someone who appeared to have suggested Israelis should be deported to the US continued to hold the Labour whip. | Naz Shah, the Bradford West MP accused of antisemitism, has been suspended from the Labour party “by mutual agreement” after David Cameron said it was “extraordinary” that someone who appeared to have suggested Israelis should be deported to the US continued to hold the Labour whip. |
| Jeremy Corbyn had earlier said he would not suspend the MP, who then issued a “heartfelt apology” in the House of Commons. | Jeremy Corbyn had earlier said he would not suspend the MP, who then issued a “heartfelt apology” in the House of Commons. |
| His aides defended her, saying the comments were antisemitic but the MP had “shocked herself” and did not mean what she said, so she could not be described as antisemitic. | His aides defended her, saying the comments were antisemitic but the MP had “shocked herself” and did not mean what she said, so she could not be described as antisemitic. |
| But little more than two hours later, Labour announced that Shah had been suspended “by mutual agreement” while claims against her were investigated by Labour’s national executive committee. | But little more than two hours later, Labour announced that Shah had been suspended “by mutual agreement” while claims against her were investigated by Labour’s national executive committee. |
| A Labour party spokesman said on Wednesday: “Jeremy Corbyn and Naz Shah have mutually agreed that she is administratively suspended from the Labour party by the general secretary. | A Labour party spokesman said on Wednesday: “Jeremy Corbyn and Naz Shah have mutually agreed that she is administratively suspended from the Labour party by the general secretary. |
| “Pending investigation, she is unable to take part in any party activity and the whip is removed.” | “Pending investigation, she is unable to take part in any party activity and the whip is removed.” |
| The announcement came just an hour after Shah made the latest in a series of apologies over the posts – telling the House of Commons she “profoundly” regretted her behaviour. | |
| She quit her role as a parliamentary assistant to the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, on Tuesday and was summoned on Wednesday morning to a meeting with Corbyn, who told her the comments were “offensive and unacceptable”. Corbyn accepted she no longer held those views. | She quit her role as a parliamentary assistant to the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, on Tuesday and was summoned on Wednesday morning to a meeting with Corbyn, who told her the comments were “offensive and unacceptable”. Corbyn accepted she no longer held those views. |
| But the shadow energy secretary, Lisa Nandy, was among Labour figures saying the party faced “real problems” if it was seen not to apply the same standards to MPs as to other activists. | But the shadow energy secretary, Lisa Nandy, was among Labour figures saying the party faced “real problems” if it was seen not to apply the same standards to MPs as to other activists. |
| The allegations centre around a 2014 Facebook post, in which Shah shared a graphic of Israel’s outline superimposed on a map of the US under the headline “Solution for Israel-Palestine Conflict – Relocate Israel into United States”, with the comment: “Problem solved”. | The allegations centre around a 2014 Facebook post, in which Shah shared a graphic of Israel’s outline superimposed on a map of the US under the headline “Solution for Israel-Palestine Conflict – Relocate Israel into United States”, with the comment: “Problem solved”. |
| Shah told MPs: “I wholeheartedly apologise to this house for the words I used before I became a member. I accept and understand that the words I used caused upset and hurt to the Jewish community and I deeply regret that. | Shah told MPs: “I wholeheartedly apologise to this house for the words I used before I became a member. I accept and understand that the words I used caused upset and hurt to the Jewish community and I deeply regret that. |
| “Antisemitism is racism, full stop. As an MP I will do everything in my power to build relations between Muslims, Jews and people of different faiths and none.” | “Antisemitism is racism, full stop. As an MP I will do everything in my power to build relations between Muslims, Jews and people of different faiths and none.” |
| Shah wrote in Jewish News that she wished to make an “unequivocal apology for statements and ideas that I have foolishly endorsed in the past”. | Shah wrote in Jewish News that she wished to make an “unequivocal apology for statements and ideas that I have foolishly endorsed in the past”. |
| “The manner and tone of what I wrote in haste is not excusable. With the understanding of the issues I have now I would never have posted them. I have to own up to the fact that ignorance is not a defence.” | “The manner and tone of what I wrote in haste is not excusable. With the understanding of the issues I have now I would never have posted them. I have to own up to the fact that ignorance is not a defence.” |
| A senior Labour aide accepted that the remark in the Facebook post was antisemitic, but added that Shah had said she was now personally “shocked” by her own actions of two years ago. | A senior Labour aide accepted that the remark in the Facebook post was antisemitic, but added that Shah had said she was now personally “shocked” by her own actions of two years ago. |
| “We are not suggesting she is antisemitic. We are saying that she made remarks that she does not agree with,” he said. | “We are not suggesting she is antisemitic. We are saying that she made remarks that she does not agree with,” he said. |
| Her suspension came after British Jewish organisations called for the Labour leader to consider further disciplinary action. Jonathan Arkush, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: “Naz Shah’s postings rightly stand condemned on all sides of the political spectrum. We note that she has resigned as the parliamentary aide to the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, and issued statements of apology. | |
| “So far, the Labour leader has merely said that he has spoken to the MP to say that her posts were unacceptable. This is a minor slap on the wrist and he should go further. We note that Ms Shah herself called for a Conservative councillor in Bradford to be suspended from the party for alleged antisemitic remarks. | “So far, the Labour leader has merely said that he has spoken to the MP to say that her posts were unacceptable. This is a minor slap on the wrist and he should go further. We note that Ms Shah herself called for a Conservative councillor in Bradford to be suspended from the party for alleged antisemitic remarks. |
| “Disciplinary sanctions do need to be considered. We will be meeting Ms Shah in the near future when we shall be asking her some very serious questions.” | “Disciplinary sanctions do need to be considered. We will be meeting Ms Shah in the near future when we shall be asking her some very serious questions.” |