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Labour’s Dipu Ahad has been confirmed as one of the party’s candidates standing for Newcastle’s Elswick ward in next month’s local elections.

Mr Ahad was one of ten sitting councillors nationwide named by BuzzFeed News as appearing in a dossier of people flagged up as allegedly being anti-Semitic.

As a result of the controversy it was suggested Mr Ahad might be suspended.

However, when the 4pm deadline on Friday for councillors who are to officially stand in May passed, Mr Ahad’s name was still on the list as representing Labour in Elswick.

In statement issued through social media, Mr Ahad said: “Five years ago I posted a comment online which I appreciate could be seen as being insensitive.

“At the time I immediately deleted the post and I wish to sincerely apologise if the subsequent publicity has caused offence.

“Throughout my life I have worked tirelessly to promote peace and unity in our city, working with groups of all faiths and others seeking to create a fairer Newcastle, and I will continue to do.”

The dossier he appeared in was compiled by Labour Against anti-Semitism, a group of volunteers who prepare reports on members and then submit them to Labour’s head office.

In it, screenshots of Mr Ahad’s Facebook page show him saying he voted against a planning application for a Marks & Spencer store “on principal (sic)” – also saying the store was “directly killing innocent Palestinian people by directly funding the Zionist regime”.

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According to the report, he ‘liked’ posts referring to Zionists controlling the media and countries being in debt to “Rothschilds”.

A Labour North spokesperson said: “Dipu Ahad has apologised for offence caused by his Facebook comments made in 2013 which he deleted at the time, and remains a Labour candidate in the local elections.

“The Labour Party is committed to challenging and campaigning against anti-Semitism in all its forms.”

The opposition Liberal Democrats on Newcastle City Council say the comments could constitute a breach of code of conduct, which should now be investigated.