Anger after Bury Conservatives deselect Jewish councillor

The decision to deselect a Jewish councillor in Bury ahead of the local elections in May has sparked anger within the community.

The local Conservative group has confirmed Jordan Lewis, a councillor in the town’s Church Ward, had been replaced by another candidate.

Locals, including many from the sizeable Jewish community have vented their anger at the move on the Prestwich Matters Community Network online group.

Nadine Lewis, formerly a key figure in the North West Friends of Israel group, and the deselected councillor’s mother, wrote: “Terrible the way he has been treated” but said she was limited in what else she could say.

Another local said: “It’s such a shame he seemed to be doing such a great job.”

While Bury Conservatives gave no official explanation for the deselection, there are unconfirmed claims Bury North MP James Daly was keen that candidates loyal to him were in place ahead of the election.

The new Church Ward candidate is Shahbaz Mahmood Arif, who has worked for the MP.

In a statement outgoing councillor Lewis said it had been a “privilege to support and represent the communities” in his ward.

Lewis had been a ally  of Bury South MP Christian Wakeford, when both were in the Conservative Party. Wakeford dramatically quit to join Labour earlier this year.

Bury North MP Daly has previously written to Foreign Secretary Liz Truss protesting at what he said was Israel’s “appalling” treatment of the Palestinians in East Jerusalem.

Jewish News has contacted Bury Conservatives and MP Daly for comment.