EXCLUSIVE: Tories turn their back on own candidate over inflammatory Israel posts

A local election candidate standing in one of the most Jewish populated wards in England “no longer has the endorsement of Bury Conservative Party” after his inflammatory social media posts on Israel were revealed.

Sham Raja, who had been confirmed as the Tory candidate in the Sedgley ward in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, had shared a Facebook post making a series of claims including the suggestion that Palestinians were having “unborn children ripped out of pregnant women.”

The post – written under the title of My Name Is Palestine – also claimed: “The media makes the Zionists look like they are the victim.”

In another post, Raja backed false claims that soccer star Christino Ronaldo had snubbed an Israeli footballer after he attempted to shake hands with him.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Bury Conservatives confirmed: “Mr Sham Raja no longer has the endorsement of Bury Conservative Party in this election.”

Raja’s name will still appear on the voting paper as the Tory candidate, even though he no longer has the party’s backing, because they issue over his social media conduct emerged after the April 5th deadline for candidate selection.

On Monday, the Jewish Rep Council of Greater Manchester and Region had highlighted concerns raised by the North West Friends of Israel group over two candidates standing in the Sedgely ward, where around 33 per cent of the population are Jewish.

In their statement Bury Conservatives added: “Following certain social media posts being brought to our attention yesterday made by two of the candidates for Sedgley Ward the Association has investigated the matter and spoken to both candidates.”

The second candidate Mazhar Aslam was at the centre of complaints over a single anti-Israel post.

But in statement confirmed Aslam “continues to be a Conservative Candidate.”

It added: “His explanation was that the single post complained of was not antisemitic in nature although he understood some would not agree with the contents of his post.

“He apologised and undertook to be more careful with the use of his language in this sensitive area in the future. His explanation and apology were accepted.”

Jewish News had previously revealed how another potential Bury Tory candidate Shadman Zaman had been suspended after he was told to remove a post on his Facebook page which expressed sympathy for the victims of the latest wave of terror attacks in Israel.

Sources claimed to Jewish News that Bury Conservatives leader Nick Jones had sent a WhatsApp message to Zaman which stated: “Shadman can this be taken down. We need to keep local.”

But Jones later told Jewish News he had “categorically not told candidates they cannot post pro-Israel sentiments,” but admitted he had told them to “focus on the local election”.

In Tuesday’s statement the Bury Tory group added: “We also wish to make clear that Dr Shadman Zaman was not confirmed as a Besses Ward candidate because of his failure to comply with instructions regarding electoral law and Party guidance and not because of any of his expressed views.”