The former Labour MP for Hyndburn, who is attempting to return as the constituency’s MP at the election, has been suspended by Labour after a recording emerged of him referring to “f***ing Israel”.
Graham Jones, who represented the seat from 2010 to 2019, was heard in a leaked recording repeatedly swearing about the Middle Eastern country, and even ranting that Britons who volunteer to fight for the Israeli Defence Forces “should be locked up”
The former MP also falsely claimed it is illegal for Britons to fight for Israel.
The recording, published this afternoon by the Guido Fawkes blog, prompted a swift response from the Labour Party, which is keen to prevent further allegations the party hasn’t changed since its Jeremy Corbyn days.
A spokesman for the party has now said Mr Jones has been administratively suspended, pending an investigation.
He has also been hauled in for an emergency interview this evening.
The constituency’s Conservative MP Sara Britcliffe, who won the seat from Mr Jones in 2019, is demanding “immediate answers”.
She said: “At a time of increasing community tensions, it is the responsibility of all of us in politics to be careful with the language we use.
“We need immediate answers from those seeking to represent Hyndburn about whether they challenged Mr Ali.
“Creating community cohesion is essential and this quite frankly does the complete opposite. This is a clear example that the Labour Party under Sir Keir Starmer has not changed at all.”
More to come…
