Naz Shah suspended from Labour party after anti-Semitic Facebook post

Naz Shah, the Labour MP embroiled in an anti-Semitism scandal, has been suspended from the party.

Criticism of the Bradford West MP escalated on Wednesday after it emerged she had made a number of anti-Semitic remarks on social media including one where she said the "solution" to the Irsael-Palestine conflict was to "relocate" all Israelis to the US.

Naz Shah became Labour MP for Bradford in the May 2015 general election, defeating the incumbent George Galloway. Labour party

A statement from the Labour party on Wednesday afternoon said: "Jeremy Corbyn and Naz Shah have mutually agreed that she is administratively suspended from the Labour Party by the general secretary.

"Pending investigation, she is unable to take part in any party activity and the whip is removed."

In an extraordinary series of events that developed throughout the day, Shah issued a public apology to MPs in the House of Commons but it later emerged that apology had been watered down by Labour's HQ.

According to Buzzfeed, News Shah's apology was edited by Labour's press team to remove all references to the term "anti-Semitic" as well as any mention of wider problems of anti-Semitism within left-wing politics. 

The Labour party HQ have denied the allegations.

The revelation came after David Cameron used Prime Minister's Questions as an opportunity to join a number of other Conservative MPs and call for Shah's suspension.

He said: "Anti-Semitism is effectively racism and we should call it out and fight it wherever we see it.

"And the fact that, frankly, we have a Labour Member of Parliament, with the Labour whip, who made remarks about the transportation of Israel to America, and talked about a 'solution,' and is still in receipt of the Labour whip is quite extraordinary."

Moments before PMQs, Jeremy Corbyn issued a statement condemning Shah's comments as "offensive and unacceptable". However he declined to use the opportunity to suspend her.

Wednesday's development came after it emerged Shah shared a graphic on Facebook that showed an image of Israel superinposed onto a map of the US. The caption read: "Solution for Israel-Palestine conflict - relocate Israel into United States." Shah added the comment: "Problem solved".

Shah made the comments in August 2014, before she became an MP in May 2015.

In a statement before her suspension she said: "I made these posts at the height of the Gaza conflict in 2014, when emotions were running high around the Middle East conflict.

"But that is no excuse for the offence I have given, for which I unreservedly apologise."

She set out a more detailed apology in an article for Jewish News.

related articles
Oxford University Labour Club embroiled in accusations of anti-Semitism

Oxford University Labour Club embroiled in accusations of anti-Semitism

Is anti-semitism on the rise in the Labour party?

Is anti-semitism on the rise in the Labour party?

Former Archbishop of Canterbury calls on Corbyn to combat antisemitism
Former Archbishop of Canterbury calls on Corbyn to combat antisemitism

Former Archbishop of Canterbury calls on Corbyn to combat antisemitism

Labour propose new rules to ban anti-Semitic members

Labour propose new rules to ban anti-Semitic members

Labour MP resigns over anti-Semitic Facebook post

Labour MP resigns over anti-Semitic Facebook post

News
Mary Berry says her Christian faith sustained her after son’s tragic death
Mary Berry says her Christian faith sustained her after son’s tragic death

Beloved queen of cakes and former Great British Bake-Off judge, Dame Mary Berry, has spoken movingly about how her Christian faith was deepened and became her anchor following the tragic loss of her teenage son, William, more than three decades ago.  

Russell Brand, born-again Christian and media personality, charged with rape and sexual assault
Russell Brand, born-again Christian and media personality, charged with rape and sexual assault

He is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 2 May.

Christian nurse who refused to call convicted paedophile a woman is suspended
Christian nurse who refused to call convicted paedophile a woman is suspended

A Christian NHS nurse has been suspended after she went public about a disciplinary investigation over her refusal to refer to a biologically male paedophile as a woman. 

YWAM responds to allegations of spiritual abuse
YWAM responds to allegations of spiritual abuse

YWAM has said it is "deeply sorry" after The Observer published a report in which former members alleged that they were subjected to strict controls, pressure and spiritual abuse.