US comic Jon Stewart described Labour suspending one of its candidates in north-east London as “the dumbest thing The UK has done since electing Boris Johnson”.
Faiza Shaheen, who ran against former Tory leader Iain Duncan-Smith in Chingford and Woodford Green at the last election, is reported to have been suspended by Labour after she allegedly liked a series of posts on X that downplayed antisemitism accusations.
Among them is said to be a satirical “Israel video sketch” posted online by the US comedian and broadcaster.
When told about it, Stewart responded: “This is the dumbest thing The UK has done since electing Boris Johnson…what the actual f***…”
This is the dumbest thing The UK has done since electing Boris Johnson…what the actual fuck… https://t.co/n6Ekibi5is
— Jon Stewart (@jonstewart) May 30, 2024
Ms Shaheen accused the Labour leadership of “double standards” over how she had been treated.
Her suspension along with that of Brighton left-winger Lloyd Russell-Moyle and the confusion over the future of veteran MP Diane Abbott has led to complaints Sir Keir and his allies are carrying out a “cull” of the Labour left.
But Deputy Leader Angela Rayner told the Guardian: “I don’t think it’s a purge.
“I don’t know the details of the individual cases but I do know that we put a robust system in place around vetting and dealing with serious allegations that are made in the party.
“We had to do that because when me and Keir took over the party was failing.”
She told Sky News: “I don’t think Keir is acting in a factional way. You do have factions in the Labour Party.
“But you know, our party will only succeed if we’re a broad church.”
