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Labour expels member who accused Rachel Riley of 'prostituting' Jewish heritage

Bob James' tweets prompted the Countdown presenter to respond by asking if he was 'an official party spokesman'

February 3, 2020 12:17
Rachel Riley Downing Street Getty
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 23: TV presenter Rachel Riley hands in a petition to 10 Downing Street on May 23, 2019 in London, England. Ms Riley joined other campaigners to hand in a petition of more than 35,000 signatures calling for more government funding for Dementia. (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)
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Labour has expelled an activist who accused Countdown presenter Rachel Riley of “prostituting” her Jewish heritage.

Bob James, from Deeside, north Wales, was suspended last March over a series of tweets aimed at Ms Riley, including the claim that her campaign against antisemitism in Jeremy Corbyn’s party was “poisoning the memory of your ancestors”.

"You have prostituted your religion," he wrote.

He later tweeted: “Judaism is a religion but what Israel does in the name of God is pure Satanic.”