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| Ex-Lib Dem MP David Ward sacked as Bradford East candidate | Ex-Lib Dem MP David Ward sacked as Bradford East candidate |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Ex-MP David Ward has been sacked as a Lib Dem general election candidate, party leader Tim Farron says. | Ex-MP David Ward has been sacked as a Lib Dem general election candidate, party leader Tim Farron says. |
| Mr Ward, who planned to stand in Bradford East - the seat he lost in the last election - caused controversy in 2013 when he accused "the Jews" of atrocities against Palestinians. | Mr Ward, who planned to stand in Bradford East - the seat he lost in the last election - caused controversy in 2013 when he accused "the Jews" of atrocities against Palestinians. |
| His party membership has been suspended and an independent panel will carry out an investigation after the election. | His party membership has been suspended and an independent panel will carry out an investigation after the election. |
| Mr Ward expressed "sadness" over his sacking and denied being anti-Semitic. | Mr Ward expressed "sadness" over his sacking and denied being anti-Semitic. |
| But Mr Farron said he was unfit to represent the party, adding: "I believe in a politics that is open, tolerant and united." | But Mr Farron said he was unfit to represent the party, adding: "I believe in a politics that is open, tolerant and united." |
| His decision was welcomed by the Jewish Leadership Council, which called Mr Ward "an unrepentant serial offender". | His decision was welcomed by the Jewish Leadership Council, which called Mr Ward "an unrepentant serial offender". |
| In 2013, Mr Ward posted a tweet calling Israel an "apartheid state" and saying that "Zionists" were "losing the battle". | |
| Mr Ward refused to apologise at the time and had the party whip withdrawn. | Mr Ward refused to apologise at the time and had the party whip withdrawn. |
| Later, in 2014 he was forced to apologise after suggesting he might be ready to fire rockets from Gaza into Israel. | Later, in 2014 he was forced to apologise after suggesting he might be ready to fire rockets from Gaza into Israel. |
| He also recently tweeted that "all terrorist attacks in UK stem from our foreign policy", following the Westminster terror attack. | He also recently tweeted that "all terrorist attacks in UK stem from our foreign policy", following the Westminster terror attack. |
| Speaking during a campaign visit to St Albans before the sacking, Mr Farron said he was "utterly passionate in tackling and fighting anti-Semitism". | Speaking during a campaign visit to St Albans before the sacking, Mr Farron said he was "utterly passionate in tackling and fighting anti-Semitism". |
| He criticised Mr Ward's comments, and added: "I've been very very clear that we will have absolutely no tolerance - zero tolerance - of anti-Semitic remarks." | He criticised Mr Ward's comments, and added: "I've been very very clear that we will have absolutely no tolerance - zero tolerance - of anti-Semitic remarks." |
| Mr Ward has previously said that neither he nor his comments had been anti-Semitic. | Mr Ward has previously said that neither he nor his comments had been anti-Semitic. |
| Following his sacking, he told the BBC: "Supporters of Israel are using this as a tactic. It's an attempt to stop supporters of the Palestinians getting into parliament." | Following his sacking, he told the BBC: "Supporters of Israel are using this as a tactic. It's an attempt to stop supporters of the Palestinians getting into parliament." |
| Mr Ward's removal as a candidate came shortly after Theresa May criticised his selection during Prime Minister's Questions. | Mr Ward's removal as a candidate came shortly after Theresa May criticised his selection during Prime Minister's Questions. |
| Responding to a question from Sir Eric Pickles - a long time campaigner against anti-Semitism - she said "people would be rightly disappointed to see the Liberal Democrats re-elect a candidate with a questionable record on anti-Semitism". | Responding to a question from Sir Eric Pickles - a long time campaigner against anti-Semitism - she said "people would be rightly disappointed to see the Liberal Democrats re-elect a candidate with a questionable record on anti-Semitism". |
| But speaking to BBC News, Mr Ward said: "I am a liberal through and through. How on earth could I be racist or be anti-Semitic? | But speaking to BBC News, Mr Ward said: "I am a liberal through and through. How on earth could I be racist or be anti-Semitic? |
| "I would defy anybody to find one single derogatory comment I've made against a Jew which was not related to something being done in Israel." | "I would defy anybody to find one single derogatory comment I've made against a Jew which was not related to something being done in Israel." |
| Mr Ward was elected MP for Bradford East in 2010, but lost his seat in 2015 to Labour. | Mr Ward was elected MP for Bradford East in 2010, but lost his seat in 2015 to Labour. |
| He had previously stood as the Lib Dem candidate for Bradford North in a by-election in 1990 and three general elections in 1992, 2001 and 2005, but was unsuccessful. | He had previously stood as the Lib Dem candidate for Bradford North in a by-election in 1990 and three general elections in 1992, 2001 and 2005, but was unsuccessful. |
| He sits on Bradford City Council, having been elected for the Bolton and Undercliffe ward last year. | He sits on Bradford City Council, having been elected for the Bolton and Undercliffe ward last year. |