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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Lib Dem health spokeswoman sacked | Lib Dem health spokeswoman sacked |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The Liberal Democrat leader has sacked his health spokeswoman in the House of Lords after comments she made about alleged organ trafficking in Haiti. | The Liberal Democrat leader has sacked his health spokeswoman in the House of Lords after comments she made about alleged organ trafficking in Haiti. |
| Jenny Tonge told the Jewish Chronicle there should be an inquiry into claims that Israeli troops sent there after the earthquake were trafficking organs. | Jenny Tonge told the Jewish Chronicle there should be an inquiry into claims that Israeli troops sent there after the earthquake were trafficking organs. |
| Nick Clegg said the comments were "wrong, distasteful and provocative" and dismissed her from her post. | Nick Clegg said the comments were "wrong, distasteful and provocative" and dismissed her from her post. |
| He said she apologised "unreservedly" for any offence she had caused. | He said she apologised "unreservedly" for any offence she had caused. |
| The peer is a patron of the news website, the Palestine Telegraph, which printed the allegations. | The peer is a patron of the news website, the Palestine Telegraph, which printed the allegations. |
| It claimed that members of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), sent to help with the humanitarian effort after Haiti's devastating quake, were selling human organs. | It claimed that members of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), sent to help with the humanitarian effort after Haiti's devastating quake, were selling human organs. |
| 'Highly offensive' | 'Highly offensive' |
| Baroness Tonge told the Jewish Chronicle: "To prevent allegations such as these - which have already been posted on You Tube - going any further, the IDF and the Israeli Medical Association should establish an independent inquiry immediately to clear the names of the team in Haiti." | Baroness Tonge told the Jewish Chronicle: "To prevent allegations such as these - which have already been posted on You Tube - going any further, the IDF and the Israeli Medical Association should establish an independent inquiry immediately to clear the names of the team in Haiti." |
| If I had to live in that situation... I might just consider becoming one myself Jenny Tonge, speaking about Palestinian suicide bombers in 2004 | |
| In a statement released on Friday evening, Nick Clegg said the allegations were "highly offensive". | In a statement released on Friday evening, Nick Clegg said the allegations were "highly offensive". |
| "The comments were wrong, distasteful and provocative and I recognise the deep and understandable distress they have caused to the Jewish community," he said. | "The comments were wrong, distasteful and provocative and I recognise the deep and understandable distress they have caused to the Jewish community," he said. |
| "While I do not believe that Jenny Tonge is anti-semitic or racist, I regard her comments as wholly unacceptable. | "While I do not believe that Jenny Tonge is anti-semitic or racist, I regard her comments as wholly unacceptable. |
| "Jenny Tonge apologises unreservedly for the offence she has caused." | "Jenny Tonge apologises unreservedly for the offence she has caused." |
| It is not the first time that Baroness Tonge has been dismissed from a party post. | |
| In 2004, when she was still an MP, then Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy asked her to quit as children's spokeswoman following remarks she made about Palestinian suicide bombers. | |
| She told a pro-Palestinian lobby group: "If I had to live in that situation - and I say that advisedly - I might just consider becoming one myself." | |
| She retired as an MP after the incident, but entered the House of Lords. | |
| In 2006, she was reprimanded by Lib Dem whips after saying the party was "probably in the grip" of the pro-Israel lobby. |