Labour probes member's 'anti-Semitic tweets' Published duration 29 March 2018

image copyright Getty Images

A Labour Party member in Sheffield is being investigated over a series of alleged anti-Semitic tweets.

Marianne Tellier, the former secretary of Labour's Park and Arbourthourne branch has been suspended after a number of complaints were received.

One tweet shows a Job Centre sign with the words Arbeit Macht Frei - Work Sets You Free - written on it; a reference to a sign at the WW2 Auschwitz camp.

Sheffield Heeley MP Louise Haigh described it as "repulsive".

The BBC has approached Ms Tellier for a comment.

image copyright Twitter

image copyright Getty Images image caption The words "Arbeit Macht Frei" are written above the entrance gate to the former Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz

The Job Centre image was originally posted in November 2017 but complaints only arose after it was recently retweeted.

The Labour Party has said it takes any complaints of anti-Semitism extremely seriously and a full investigation will be held into the allegations.

Labour MP Ms Haigh said: "The unacceptable and insensitive tweets are repulsive and it is absolutely right that she has now been suspended.

"I'm glad that the party has taken swift and decisive action and made clear that this kind of rhetoric will not be tolerated."

Labour councillors for the Park and Arbourthorne ward, Julie Dore, Jack Scott and Ben Miskell, said they welcomed the action being taken by the party.

In a statement they said: "It is right and appropriate that the party does not tolerate any form of anti-Semitism and it has no place in the party."