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Newcastle councillor Dipu Ahad could be suspended by the Labour Party as well as face a possible council probe over social media comments.

Councillor Dipu Ahad, who represents Elswick, 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.

It 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 Coun 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”.

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

The opposition Liberal Democrats on Newcastle City Council say the comments, made in February 2013, could constitute a breach of code of conduct which should now be investigated.

Coun Ahad was not prepared to comment when contacted on Tuesday.

However in a comment emailed to BuzzFeed News, Coun Ahad wrote: “Ever since I got elected in 2007 I have a history of working tirelessly in bringing all the various communities in Newcastle together.

“As to your focus of my relations with the Jewish community let me state the following: 1. I am on record to have condemned anti-Semitism throughout my history.

“2. I have had the opportunity to visit Auschwitz in 2012 and my views are public in this regard.

“3. I was the chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day in Newcastle.”

He went on: “It is possible there will be Muslim councillors and members of Labour Party who will view the need to justify our innocence as McCarthyism.

“While there is a continued need to find prejudice and xenophobia in our country I believe your approach will alienate those very people who should be part of the team to eradicate these evils.

“Sincere, anti-racist campaigners look for positives in people and build coalitions rather than invest resources searching for spurious connection from decades ago to condemn them.

“I shall continue to fight bigotry and racism in all its forms from public office or private life.”

We understand the party is considering whether to suspend Coun Ahad, although this has not been officially confirmed.

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Meanwhile, in its comment, the Lib Dems said: “We have been aware for several months that Coun Dipu Ahad was the subject of a complaint by Labour Against anti-Semitism activists to Labour HQ about anti-Semitic comments on social media. No outcome has been reported.

“Lib Dem councillors have previously expressed concern about Coun Ahad’s suitability to serve as chair of the Holocaust Memorial Working Group given the publicly expressed lack of confidence in him by the Jewish Community.

“In light of recent coverage about Labour turning a blind eye to anti-Semitism the question needs to be asked why Newcastle Labour have not taken steps to suspend Coun Ahad and are allowing him to stand as a candidate in May.

“We understand his comments were known about by several Labour councillors. Labour’s leadership in Newcastle need to explain why they have not taken action.

“We consider Coun Ahad’s comments in respect of Marks & Spencer may constitute a breach of the Council’s Code of Conduct and we will be submitting a complaint asking for this to be properly investigated by the Council.”

A Newcastle City Council spokesperson said: “We have not received a complaint. If we receive a complaint it will be considered by the Monitoring Officer as part of the standards process.”

The news comes at a time Labour and its leader Jeremy Corbyn have faced a barrage of criticism over anti-Semitism in the party.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “The Labour Party is committed to challenging and campaigning against anti-Semitism in all its forms.

“All complaints of anti-Semitism are taken extremely seriously. These are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken. We do not comment on individual cases.”