Tory local election candidate stands down after ‘jew pigs’ social media post emerges
EXCLUSIVE: Azmat Husain has withdrawn from contest in Eccles, Salford, but tells Jewish News a 'jew pigs' Facebook post was 'fake'
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
A Conservative Party candidate has withdrawn from the forthcoming local elections after a social media post emerged in which he appeared to have used the words “jew pigs”.
Azmat Husain had been due to stand as the Tory candidate for Eccles in the city of Salford, Greater Manchester, in the May elections, with campaign material showing his name circulated in the seat.
But on Wednesday Husain confirmed to Jewish News that he had now stood down.
A Facebook post appeared to show that Husain, the current chairman of Salford Conservative Federation, had used the words “jew pigs” during an online discussion about settlers in the West Bank.
Jewish News understands that a complaint about Husain and the social media posted in 2021 had originally been made to the Tory Party over one year ago, and he had been suspended.
The result of the investigation conducted by the party is not known.
A Conservative spokesperson told Jewish News: “The Conservative Party has an established code of conduct and formal processes where complaints can be made in confidence. This process is rightly confidential.”
Husain initially said he did not want to comment about the reason for his decision to withdraw as a candidate, but when asked whether he had used the words “jew pigs” Husain told Jewish News: “It was all fake. It was not just one time, it was four times. Every time it was fake.”
He added: “I have been in business all the time. I have got good friends, colleagues. I can’t even think of anything like that.”
Asked if he believed somebody else had written the words “jew pigs” under his name, Husain added:”I don’t think it was fake, it was fake.
“Last year in the elections we received so many emails. That’s why I am so disappointed.”
Husain, a former deputy chair of Bury North Conservatives, added he was prepared to answer questions on the matter “because I’ve not done anything. ”
He said: “I have been with the party for the last 19 years, and I haven’t done anything at all that might bring some embarrassment to the party, or the community, … all of the people.”
Husain, a chief executive of an import/export company said he had decided to withdraw as the Tory candidate last Friday.
He added he had wished to stand as a candidate “to bring people together.”
Local elections take place on 2 May.
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