Labour suspends two councillors over social media posts about Israel

A Labour councillor has been suspended after describing “Zionist Jews” as a “disgrace to humanity” and supporting calls for Israel to be relocated to the US, becoming the party’s second elected politician in a day to face investigation.

The action against Salim Mulla, a Blackburn with Darwen councillor, came just hours after Nottingham City councillor Ilyas Aziz was suspended over his own controversial social media posts about Israel.

The moves come after party leader Jeremy Corbyn insisted Labour is “united” in opposing anti-Semitism in the wake of a turbulent week which has also seen the suspension of MP Naz Shah and former London mayor Ken Livingstone.