The Conservative Party is under fire for sharing an edited video clip of London Mayor Sadiq Khan, in which he momentarily misspoke during a television interview, leading to accusations of misrepresentation.
The controversy erupted after the Tories posted a manipulated version of Khan’s interview, creating the impression that he had referred to the Labour Party as “anti-Semitic.” In reality, Khan had been discussing the suspension of two Labour by-election candidates over comments critical of Israel.
During the interview, Khan stated, “that sort of language isn’t acceptable, and it certainly shouldn’t be acceptable in a party like mine, that is proud to be both anti-racist and anti-Semitic.” He swiftly corrected himself, saying, “I beg your pardon, tackling anti-Semitism.”
However, the edited clip circulated by the Conservative Party’s official account omitted Khan’s correction, sparking immediate backlash from various quarters.
Former Tory MP Nick De Bois condemned the move, labeling it “shameful” and urging the party to remove the misleading tweet. A community note appended to the original tweet clarified Khan’s correction, emphasizing that the clip had been truncated.
Mike Katz, national chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, accused the Conservatives of exploiting the situation for political gain, asserting that the Jewish community is tired of being used as a political pawn.
Rabbi David Mason, executive director of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality, criticized the Tories for trivializing the issue of anti-Semitism, particularly in light of recent data indicating a significant increase in anti-Semitic incidents.
Separately, the Conservative Party faced further scrutiny after withdrawing support for Azhar Ali, a Rochdale by-election candidate, over controversial remarks regarding Israel’s actions. Ali allegedly suggested that Israel intentionally allowed casualties to provoke military action in Gaza.
Additionally, former Labour MP Graham Jones faced suspension from the party following the emergence of audio recordings purportedly capturing derogatory remarks about Israel and individuals volunteering for the Israeli Defence Forces.
The incidents have sparked condemnation and raised questions about the responsible use of political discourse, particularly concerning sensitive topics such as anti-Semitism and international conflicts.
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