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Labour suspends party member Bob Campbell over his claim Isis is 'run by Israel' | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A Labour Party activist has been suspended after suggesting the Islamist terror group Isis is controlled by the state of Israel. | A Labour Party activist has been suspended after suggesting the Islamist terror group Isis is controlled by the state of Israel. |
Bob Campbell, a Middlesbrough Momentum activist, said on Facebook just one day after the Brussels attacks that "Isis is run by Israel". | Bob Campbell, a Middlesbrough Momentum activist, said on Facebook just one day after the Brussels attacks that "Isis is run by Israel". |
A day later, Mr Campbell posted a picture which claimed Isis has not attacked Israel "because the dog doesn’t bite its own tail". | A day later, Mr Campbell posted a picture which claimed Isis has not attacked Israel "because the dog doesn’t bite its own tail". |
Mr Campbell was suspended after local MP Tom Blenkinsop was alerted to the nature of his social media feed, The Sunday Times reported. | Mr Campbell was suspended after local MP Tom Blenkinsop was alerted to the nature of his social media feed, The Sunday Times reported. |
The Labour Party hierarchy is now facing calls to expel Mr Campbell permanently. | The Labour Party hierarchy is now facing calls to expel Mr Campbell permanently. |
In addition to the two recent posts, Mr Campbell has also posted pictures comparing the Holocaust to the situation in Gaza, captioned "Holocaust the sequel…Please stop Israel". | In addition to the two recent posts, Mr Campbell has also posted pictures comparing the Holocaust to the situation in Gaza, captioned "Holocaust the sequel…Please stop Israel". |
He has also posted pictures depicting the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu being hung from a tree and an Israeli flag adapted with an image of a rat featuring the words: "The real plague". | He has also posted pictures depicting the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu being hung from a tree and an Israeli flag adapted with an image of a rat featuring the words: "The real plague". |
Mr Campbell told The Sunday Times he was not anti-Semitic, and also denied posting the image of the rat on the Israeli flag. | Mr Campbell told The Sunday Times he was not anti-Semitic, and also denied posting the image of the rat on the Israeli flag. |
“I post lots of pro-Jewish posts but I [also] post anti-Zionist posts,” he said. | “I post lots of pro-Jewish posts but I [also] post anti-Zionist posts,” he said. |
Mr Campbell is the latest person in a series of Labour Party members accused of anti-Semitism. | Mr Campbell is the latest person in a series of Labour Party members accused of anti-Semitism. |
Earlier in March, member Vicki Kirby was also suspended pending investigation for allegedly posting anti-Semitic comments to Facebook. | Earlier in March, member Vicki Kirby was also suspended pending investigation for allegedly posting anti-Semitic comments to Facebook. |
She had previously been suspended in 2014 for making aggressive anti-Israel comments on social media. | She had previously been suspended in 2014 for making aggressive anti-Israel comments on social media. |
The Labour Mayor of Bradford, Khadim Hussain, was suspended for similar reasons. | The Labour Mayor of Bradford, Khadim Hussain, was suspended for similar reasons. |
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell told The Independent that Labour Party members with anti-Semitic views should be banned for life. | |
"I’m not having it. People might say ‘I’ve changed my views’ – well, do something in another organisation,” said Mr McDonnell. | "I’m not having it. People might say ‘I’ve changed my views’ – well, do something in another organisation,” said Mr McDonnell. |
“Anti-Semitism is in our society, it will rear its head as a result of that in any part of society and we’ve got to be eternally vigilant.” | “Anti-Semitism is in our society, it will rear its head as a result of that in any part of society and we’ve got to be eternally vigilant.” |
No one at the Labour Party was available to speak at the time of publishing. | No one at the Labour Party was available to speak at the time of publishing. |
Mr Campbell has been contacted by The Independent for comment. | Mr Campbell has been contacted by The Independent for comment. |