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| General election 2019: Labour candidate removed over anti-Semitism claims | General election 2019: Labour candidate removed over anti-Semitism claims |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Labour has removed one of its general election candidates over allegations that she made anti-Semitic posts on Facebook. | Labour has removed one of its general election candidates over allegations that she made anti-Semitic posts on Facebook. |
| Safia Ali had been due to stand for the party in the Falkirk seat in next month's election. | Safia Ali had been due to stand for the party in the Falkirk seat in next month's election. |
| But Scottish Labour said it had taken "immediate action" to remove her as its candidate after the posts emerged. | But Scottish Labour said it had taken "immediate action" to remove her as its candidate after the posts emerged. |
| It also expressed its "deep regret" that she had been selected to stand for the party. | It also expressed its "deep regret" that she had been selected to stand for the party. |
| Scottish Labour general secretary Michael Sharpe confirmed that Ms Ali had been removed but said he would not go into details about her case. | Scottish Labour general secretary Michael Sharpe confirmed that Ms Ali had been removed but said he would not go into details about her case. |
| He added: "I deeply regret the people of the Falkirk constituency will no longer have a Labour candidate to campaign and vote for on 12 December. | He added: "I deeply regret the people of the Falkirk constituency will no longer have a Labour candidate to campaign and vote for on 12 December. |
| "There is no place for anti-Semitism, or any form of racism and bigotry, in our party. That is why Labour is taking robust action to root it out of our movement and wider society." | "There is no place for anti-Semitism, or any form of racism and bigotry, in our party. That is why Labour is taking robust action to root it out of our movement and wider society." |
| Mr Sharpe insisted that the party had "significantly strengthened" its procedures, with "swift suspensions, new processes for rapid expulsions and an education programme for members". | Mr Sharpe insisted that the party had "significantly strengthened" its procedures, with "swift suspensions, new processes for rapid expulsions and an education programme for members". |
| BBC Scotland has been unable to contact Ms Ali for comment. | |
| Labour has been embroiled in allegations of anti-Semitism for more than three years, with the chief rabbi claiming earlier this week that the party is not doing enough to root out anti-Jewish racism. | Labour has been embroiled in allegations of anti-Semitism for more than three years, with the chief rabbi claiming earlier this week that the party is not doing enough to root out anti-Jewish racism. |
| In an interview with the BBC's Andrew Neil on Tuesday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was asked four times whether he would like to apologise to the British Jewish community - but declined to do so. | In an interview with the BBC's Andrew Neil on Tuesday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was asked four times whether he would like to apologise to the British Jewish community - but declined to do so. |
| However, Mr Corbyn has stressed that there is no place for anti-Semitism within Labour and said those guilty of anti-Jewish racism have been "brought to book". | |
| Meanwhile, the Scottish Conservatives suspended their Glasgow Central candidate, Flora Scarabello, on Wednesday after she was accused of using "anti-Muslim language". | Meanwhile, the Scottish Conservatives suspended their Glasgow Central candidate, Flora Scarabello, on Wednesday after she was accused of using "anti-Muslim language". |
| Last week, the Tories also suspended their candidate for Aberdeen North, Ryan Houghton, over allegations he had made anti-Semitic, Islamophobic and homophobic comments seven years previously. | Last week, the Tories also suspended their candidate for Aberdeen North, Ryan Houghton, over allegations he had made anti-Semitic, Islamophobic and homophobic comments seven years previously. |