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Scottish Labour drops Falkirk candidate over antisemitism claims Scottish Labour drops Falkirk candidate over alleged antisemitic posts
(about 3 hours later)
Safia Ali suspended after allegedly antisemitic posts found on old Facebook accountSafia Ali suspended after allegedly antisemitic posts found on old Facebook account
Labour has deselected its candidate for Falkirk over alleged antisemitic posts on Facebook, leaving the party unable to contest a seat it once held for decades.Labour has deselected its candidate for Falkirk over alleged antisemitic posts on Facebook, leaving the party unable to contest a seat it once held for decades.
Scottish Labour officials confirmed a report in the Falkirk Herald that the party had dropped Safia Ali as its general election candidate and suspended her membership after the Facebook posts surfaced.Scottish Labour officials confirmed a report in the Falkirk Herald that the party had dropped Safia Ali as its general election candidate and suspended her membership after the Facebook posts surfaced.
It is the latest in a spate of candidate selection controversies to have hit the three main UK parties, with the Tories, Labour and Liberal Democrats suspending candidates recently for alleged Islamophobia, racism and antisemitism.It is the latest in a spate of candidate selection controversies to have hit the three main UK parties, with the Tories, Labour and Liberal Democrats suspending candidates recently for alleged Islamophobia, racism and antisemitism.
Michael Sharpe, Scottish Labour’s general secretary, told the Falkirk Herald: “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 antisemitism, 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.”Michael Sharpe, Scottish Labour’s general secretary, told the Falkirk Herald: “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 antisemitism, 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.”
Ali stood as an independent candidate in Scotland’s council elections in 2017, getting the lowest number of first-preference votes in her Falkirk ward.Ali stood as an independent candidate in Scotland’s council elections in 2017, getting the lowest number of first-preference votes in her Falkirk ward.
A party source said the comments were made on an older Facebook account she no longer used and had not been picked up during candidate screening.A party source said the comments were made on an older Facebook account she no longer used and had not been picked up during candidate screening.
He said the case was going through the fast-track disciplinary processes introduced by Jeremy Corbyn, whose handling of antisemitism within the party has again come under intense scrutiny.He said the case was going through the fast-track disciplinary processes introduced by Jeremy Corbyn, whose handling of antisemitism within the party has again come under intense scrutiny.
“Safia Ali is no longer the Labour party’s candidate for Falkirk,” a party spokesman said. “We have taken immediate action on this matter.”“Safia Ali is no longer the Labour party’s candidate for Falkirk,” a party spokesman said. “We have taken immediate action on this matter.”
In 2013 Labour’s Falkirk constituency party was embroiled in controversy over alleged irregularities in member recruitment involving the Unite union. The union wanted Karie Murphy, an ally of its leader, Len McCluskey, and latterly a key aide to Corbyn, chosen as the candidate. The constituency party was put under special measures and Murphy later stood down as its candidate.In 2013 Labour’s Falkirk constituency party was embroiled in controversy over alleged irregularities in member recruitment involving the Unite union. The union wanted Karie Murphy, an ally of its leader, Len McCluskey, and latterly a key aide to Corbyn, chosen as the candidate. The constituency party was put under special measures and Murphy later stood down as its candidate.
In 2015 Falkirk was among the swath of Labour seats to topple in the Scottish National party (SNP) landslide, and in 2017 it was successfully defended by the SNP’s John McNally with a majority of 4,923.In 2015 Falkirk was among the swath of Labour seats to topple in the Scottish National party (SNP) landslide, and in 2017 it was successfully defended by the SNP’s John McNally with a majority of 4,923.
The seat has since been low on Labour’s target list in Scotland. The latest YouGov poll for the Times suggests Scottish Labour will lose five of the seven seats it won in 2017.The seat has since been low on Labour’s target list in Scotland. The latest YouGov poll for the Times suggests Scottish Labour will lose five of the seven seats it won in 2017.