A Conservative MP has apologised for failing to do due diligence in hiring a disgraced councillor who had shared posts about “Nazi-Zionists” and “British MPs working for Israel” — but has insisted that he will not give him the sack.

Peterborough MP Paul Bristow said he knew Ansar Ali had been suspended by Labour in 2021 for alleged antisemitism but had not “closely checked” the reasons for the disciplinary action. He had not seen a JC article revealing further controversial posts by Ali, he added.

The MP is continuing to employ Ali, a former Labour councillor, as a caseworker and translator in his constituency office.

Bristow said he wanted to give the former councillor the chance to “make amends”. Ali “regrets deeply this social media activity and now sees clearly why it is antisemitic”, he added.

Ali served as a Labour representative on Peterborough council from 2015 until May this year. He was suspended by Sir Keir Starmer’s party in 2021 after posting that he was “boycotting the biased BBC” because it “didn’t want to upset the Zionist Israeli government lobby”.

Ansar Ali 2

Ansar Ali (pictured right) was hired by Paul Bristow MP (centre) (Photo: Facebook)

He was reinstated in July 2022 after a party investigation. But last year, the JC revealed that he had also shared a post asking, “How many British MPs are working for Israel?” He had also posted a claim that a Nazi-era medal, struck for propaganda purposes, with a Star of David on one side and a swastika on the other, was evidence of “Nazi-Zionist collaboration”.

Bristow acknowledged that he had been aware of Ali’s suspension when he gave him his job, and that although he had been a magistrate, community activist and councillor for many years, “this does not give him a free pass”.

However, in an article for the JC, Bristow admitted: “I should have checked closely the reasons for his suspension back in 2021.”

And he recognised that “many would be astonished to see me welcome one of these former Labour councillors into my office”.

The MP said that on being made aware of the inflammatory posts, he had discussed the issue with Ali. “He regrets deeply this social media activity and now sees clearly why it is antisemitic,” Bristow wrote for the JC. "In an environment where material such as this (and worse) is being shared openly, he should have known much better.

“I know some will disagree with my decision to give Ansar a chance to make amends. People may be disappointed. I understand this. But I am convinced that Ansar will stand with me in the fight against hatred and antisemitism. He will use his experience and mistakes as lessons for others.

“Ultimately the proof will be in actions, not words, and I look forward to this being demonstrated. By having his support, I will make a bigger difference than asking him to walk away.”

Paul Bristow MP

Paul Bristow (Photo: UK Parliament)

He also said that antisemitism was “a stain on my city”, and that the time had come to “lift this shadow” with antisemitism training for all elected officials.

Ali told the JC: “In the past I have commented and shared social media posts that I now fully understand would have caused hurt and distress to members of the Jewish faith. This was wrong, and I deeply regret any hurt I have caused to the Jewish community and others.

“I have always considered myself someone who works to bring diverse communities in Peterborough and beyond together. These specific examples of social media activity fell well short of this aspiration.

“I shall work to ensure all community leaders strive to eliminate antisemitism and all forms of racial hatred and division wherever it is expressed. I aspire for a just and peaceful world where humanity comes first. Justice for All. Love for all, hate for none.”

A further 13 Labour councillors were suspended by Labour at the same time as Ali in 2021, along with a Conservative, Ishfaq Hussein, who had shared posts accusing Israel of “genocide” and a claim that “Zionism is one of the worst afflictions in the world.”   

He was reinstated last year and said then that he “deeply regretted” the posts and that he accepted he had “acted irresponsibly”.

Bristow claimed that although social media posts hostile to Jews sometimes stemmed from criticism of Israel’s government, this this “all too easily leads to holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel”, while “you may often see people demanding Israel act to a set of standards not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation”.

Such statements, says Bristow, clearly meet the International Holocaust Memorial Association’s definition of antisemitism.

“We need to go much further than simply apologising and moving on,” Bristow writes. “I think all councillors in Peterborough need to go through antisemitism training as a matter of course.  We have a deserved reputational issue.  We owe it to Peterborough to address it.”