Labour activist withdraws as election candidate after party alerted to antisemitism posts
EXCLUSIVE Jim Bradbury, was selected to contest Stoke's Trent Vale and Oakhill ward for Labour in May, but party sources say he has now withdrawn after his social media conduct was raised
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
A Labour activist selected to stand as a local election candidate has stepped down after Jewish News alerted the party to their worrying track-record of posts relating to antisemitism.
Jim Bradbury had been selected as the Labour candidate in the forthcoming city council elections in Stoke-on-Trent, where he was due to stand in Trent Vale and Oakhill on May 4th.
But Bradbury’s Twitter page, which had been taken down in recent weeks, showed he had a lengthy past of liking comments made by or about figures – including George Galloway, Ken Loach, Jackie Walker – denying or downplaying claims around antisemitism.
In one instance he had liked claims made by former Respect party leader Galloway that condemned former MP Luciana Berger accusing her of spending “every hour and every day trying to sabotage the possibility” of a Labour government.
In a further “like” he also show his support for the proscribed Labour Against The Witch Hunt group, that have repeatedly downplayed or denied antisemitism claims in the party.
Elsewhere Bradbury offered his support to Ken Loach, expelled from Labour over antisemitism claims.
He also liked false claims about the Board of Deputies being Tory Party supporters, and backed claims the BBC is under the influence of the “Israel lobby.”
Further tweets from warehouse worker Bradbury show that he liked tweets from Jackie Walker, expelled from Labour for allegations involving antisemitism, that condemned Lord Mann, the government’s independent adviser on antisemitism.
The trade union activist has also liked tweets containing the #ItWasAScam hashtag used by those who claim the party’s crisis under Jeremy Corbyn was a smear.
Bradbury liked another post which stated “Are you losing the argument? Why not call your opponent an antisemite. And you won’t even have to provide any evidence.”
One Labour source admitted:”You could probably just about make a case for a person mistakingly ‘liking’ one or two comments on Twitter.
“But it Bradbury’s case, in relation to comments about Labour’s antisemitism crisis, it seemed to have something of a habit.”
Bradbury, who describes himself as a “passionate trade unionist and Stoke City fan” had previously stood as a local election candidate in the nearby Penkhull ward.
Jewish News understands that Bradbury’s selection as a local election candidate was approved at a local level by a party local government committee. (LGC).
It is understood that concerns about Bradbury’s conduct were raised at national level within the party in recent weeks.
With Keir Starmer vowing to continue to root out antisemitism from the party, one senior Labour figure told Jewish News Bradbury’s tweets were “an embarrassment to the party.”
Another party source said:”Lord knows why these tweets weren’t picked up ahead of Bradbury’s selection.”
Jewish News has attempted to contact Bradbury via telephone and email ahead of publishing this article.
We have contacted Labour for comment.
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