‘I don’t have a bad bone in my body’: Lisa Forbes apologises for anti-Semitic social media posts

‘I don’t have a bad bone in my body’: Labour’s new Peterborough MP Lisa Forbes apologises for ‘liking’ anti-Semitic social media posts before winning by-election

  • She ‘liked’ a claim that  Theresa May had a ‘Zionist Slave Masters agenda’
  • She also commented under a post whose author championed conspiracy theories that Islamic extremists were created by the CIA and Mossad 
  • She won the Peterborough by-election for Labour by just 683 votes  

Labour’s newest MP made a grovelling apology today for appearing to endorse anti-Semitic material online, insisting: ‘I don’t have a bad bone in my body towards any race of people’.

Lisa Forbes won the Peterborough by-election from Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party days after Jewish groups had called for her deselection as a candidate.

Her win will see her join Jeremy Corbyn’s party in Westminster at a time when it remains engulfed in an anti-Semitism crisis. 

She said sorry for controversial actions on social media posts include one from April in which she ‘liked’ a claim that Prime Minister Theresa May had a ‘Zionist Slave Masters agenda’.

She also commented under a post whose author championed conspiracy theories that Islamic extremists were created by the CIA and Israel’s intelligence service Mossad writing: ‘I’ve enjoyed reading this so much.’ 

After her 683-vote victory tonight Ms Forbes – who has already apologised for the posts – told Sky she had ‘no issue with any community’.

‘I think antisemitism is abhorrent,’ she said.

Lisa Forbes won the Peterborough by-election from Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party days after Jewish groups had called for her deselection as a candidate

Her win will see her join Jeremy Corbyn's party in Westminster at a time when it remains engulfed in an anti-Semitism crisis.

Her win will see her join Jeremy Corbyn’s party in Westminster at a time when it remains engulfed in an anti-Semitism crisis.

‘I actually ”liked” a video of children praying about the atrocities that had happened in New Zealand and I hadn’t paid much attention to the text above it.

‘I apologise for that and I’m really sorry and I just hope that people will understand that I don’t have a bad bone in my body towards any race of people and anti-Semitism is something that I condemn completely.’

However her victory is almost certain to reignite Labour’s civil war over anti-Semitism. 

 Jewish groups and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt tore into the party and leader Jeremy Corbyn earlier this week demanding she be removed as a candidate.

The Jewish Labour Movement, which is affiliated to the party, said it would not campaign for Ms Forbes in Peterborough.

A spokeswoman said: ‘To do so would be inconsistent with the views of our members, who have understandably and clearly called for a culture of zero tolerance to anti-Semitism within the Labour Party.’ 

Last month Labour faced one of the most shameful days in its history yesterday after a formal inquiry was launched into whether it has victimised Jews.

In a potentially explosive intervention, the equalities watchdog said it ‘suspects’ the party has committed ‘unlawful acts’ in its handling of the anti-Semitism crisis.

Only once before has the Equality and Human Rights Commission launched a formal inquiry into a political party – and that was the far-Right BNP. 

The EHRC will investigate whether Mr Corbyn’s party has ‘unlawfully discriminated against, harassed or victimised people because they are Jewish’ – and whether senior staff responded properly to anti-Semitism allegations against its members.

If Labour fails to accept its findings, it could be taken to court and be fined.

The party rejected claims it was institutionally racist. 

Last week an ally of Jeremy Corbyn was suspended today after being recorded claiming the Israeli embassy and 68 rabbis in London are behind a conspiracy to engulf Labour and its leader with anti-Semitism claims.

Peter Willsman, a member of Labour’s ruling NEC executivec ommittee, claimed that Israel have planted agents in the party with the purpose of damaging its reputation.  

 

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