New Lambeth councillor Saiqa Ali suspended from Green Party

New Lambeth councillor suspended from Green Party

A newly elected Lambeth councillor was suspended from the Green Party after she allegedly made a series of antisemitic social media posts.

Saiqa Ali, 56, was elected as one of 29 Green Party councillors in the south London borough on 7 May.

However, the Lambeth Green Party has since said Ali was suspended at the time of the election and would have to either sit as an independent councillor or join a different group.

In a statement to the BBC, Ali said: "I unequivocally reject all forms of discrimination and racism." She added she was "cooperating fully with all ongoing processes", and was considering whether to sit as an independent councillor.

Ali was elected in the Streatham St Leonard's ward along with two current Green Party members.

In a statement on its website, the Lambeth Green Party said it opposed "all forms of racism... including antisemitism and any threat to the Jewish community".

The party said the alleged posts did not reflect the Green Party's values and "we condemn them fully".

It said Ali had been suspended pending investigation.

Despite her suspension, Ali appeared as a Green candidate on ballot papers on voting day.

This was due to electoral law requirements, meaning nominations cannot be changed during an election.

Ali told the BBC: "I am genuinely honoured that the people of St Leonard's ward placed their trust in me and I do not take that lightly.

"I also want to be clear that statements I would never make or support in any form have been falsely attributed to me.

"My record of over two decades of charity work and community service speaks to who I am and what I stand for.

"To those who voted Green and now have questions, I understand and respect those questions. I ask only that you look at my record, my work, and my values."

In April, two Green Party candidates - women aged 54 and 56 - were arrested in relation to alleged antisemitic posts. The BBC understands one of the women has been suspended from the party.

Ali was among several Green Party candidates suspended during the electoral campaign for allegedly making antisemitic comments on social media posts. Most were not elected, the Green Party said.

'Immediate action'

Separately, an Aspire Party candidate who posted antisemitic content to his Facebook page was elected as a member of Tower Hamlets Council.

Abul Monsur was voted into office in the Lansbury ward, Poplar, on Thursday.

Although officially elected on behalf of the winning Aspire Party, he was suspended from the group last week.

An Aspire spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that Monsur was "suspended pending investigation" and "not Aspire".

Monsur said last week he was "deeply sorry" and "ashamed" of the posts, although he could not be reached for further comment following his suspension.

Additional reporting by Nick Clark, Local Democracy Reporting Service.