‘Antisemitism scandal’ candidate triumphs for Conservatives at local elections
Shakeel Hussain - who previously wrote of 'Zionist murderers' and 'so-called antisemtism' - was voted in as a councillor at the local elections in Stockton's Ropner ward
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
A local election candidate at the centre of an antisemitism scandal has been voted in as a Conservative councillor on the Stockton-On-Tees Borough Council.
Shakeel Hussain triumphed in Thursday’s vote in the Ropner ward, despite newspaper reports about the emergence of Facebook posts in which he had written of “Zionist murders” and referred to “so-called antisemitism”.
Jewish News also revealed earlier this month how Labour had dropped Hussain after carrying out due diligence on candidates for the party, and discovering his early inflammatory posts.
Days before last Thursday’s elections, the Conservatives issued a statement saying Hussain could face an investigation by the party, adding he “would not be allowed to join the Conservative group on the council, if elected, until any investigations had been completed.”
But after Hussain’s election victory was confirmed Conservative Group leader appeared to praise him, and another candidate for their successes in the seat.
Tony Riordan, Stockton Conservative Group leader said:”Ropner is a really, really great win.
“The two councillors who won have worked their socks off. They know the issues, the residents are fed up with Labour, they complain about the same issues time after time.”
It meant the Tories took their tally from 16 to 23 on Stockton Council. Labour saw its seats reduced from 24 to 22, having lost overall control in 2019. But no party will now be able to gain the 29 seats needed to gain an overall majority on the 56-seat borough council.
Improved due diligence checks picked up multiple antisemitic posts by Shakeel Hussain and halted his application to be a Labour candidate in this year’s @StocktonCouncil election. So it surprised me to see him standing for the Tories in Ropner ward. Didn’t they ask why he’d left? pic.twitter.com/A1alrgSCzu
— Steve Cooke (@Steve_Cooke) April 15, 2023
Jewish News has learned that Hussain had actually applied to be a Labour candidate in this year’s local elections.
But after he was alerted to concerns about his posts he left to join the Tories.Historic posts seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service under the name Shakeel Munir Hussain, showed him in November 2015 saying: “The world is slowly waking up and seeing through all the smugness of these Zionist murderers.”
One post from another user involved discussion about gold.
Another Facebook user asked “where’s it all gone?” and Mr Hussain replied “Isreal… bro to make more war”.
Another shared post from another user referred to ISIS saying “they don’t fire a single bullet at Israel”.
Meanwhile a post was also shared relating to the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, featuring an explicit and violent cartoon appearing to show a Jewish caricature, with the poster referring to “so-called antisemitism” and commenting: “Say what you like about Islam… but speak against Zionism and get arrested!”
The account liked a comment from another Facebook user who referred to “Zionist Jews” as “cold blooded murders”
Campaigner against antisemitism Steve Cooke had also raised concerns about Hussain’s comments with a detailed post on Twitter.
Asked to comment on the posts Hussain told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I’m not interested.”
Days before the local election a Conservative spokesperson said:”“We do not support the views shared in these social media posts. It is too late to remove Mr Hussain from the ballot paper under electoral law, but he would not be allowed to join the Conservative group on the council, if elected, until any investigations had been completed.”
Labour sources called for Hussain to resign.
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