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Naz Shah steps down as private secretary after Facebook posts about Israel and Jews

April 26, 2016 12:30
Naz Shah with former London mayor Ken Livingstone

By

Marcus Dysch,

Marcus Dysch

3 min read

Labour MP Naz Shah has stepped down as private secretary to Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell after a series of social media posts she made about Jews and Israel were revealed.

The Bradford West MP, who defeated George Galloway in last year’s general election, backed the spending of “transportation costs” to move Israelis out of the Middle East.

In a statement Ms Shah said: "I deeply regret the hurt I have caused by comments made on social media before I was elected as an MP.

"I made these posts at the height of the Gaza conflict in 2014, when emotions were running high around the Middle East conflict. But that is no excuse for the offence I have given, for which I unreservedly apologise.