Conservatives expel mayor who shared ‘offensive comments’ about Jews

A mayor has been expelled from the Conservative Party after he shared “offensive and inappropriate comments” about Jewish people, along with a Facebook post in response to the October 7 Hamas atrocity in Israel.

The Salisbury Conservative Association confirmed it had received a formal complaint about Councillor Atiqul Hoque, the Mayor of Salisbury ” relating to posts on social media and WhatsApp.

Following an investigation, the party said it had decided to expel Cllr Hoque, a ward councillor on Salisbury City Council and mayor since May 2023.

An association spokesman said the party was “committed to upholding the values of tolerance, diversity, and respect”.

Jewish News understands the posts shared by Hoque were deemed to have been of an antisemitic nature after the investigation was mounted.

Cllr Hoque told the Salisbury Journal he has written to the Chairman of the party to offer his resignation – despite having already been expelled – and that he will appeal the decision.

But a spokesperson for the local Tory association said: “Following a careful examination of the evidence, it has been determined that councillor Hoque’s comments are in clear breach of the standards expected from individuals holding public office.

“We take such matters seriously and prioritise the maintenance of high ethical standards and values within our party.

“The complaints process allows individuals the opportunity to present their perspective and “allows for a fair and impartial assessment of the situation”, he added.