Rupa Huq, a prominent London-based Opposition Labour Party MP, has denied allegations of antisemitism after it emerged that former colleagues had complained over some anti-Jewish remarks.
The Bangladeshi-origin MP for Ealing Central and Action in west London, an outspoken campaigner against Brexit, is accused of taunting a former employee in her parliamentary office about a “flag of Israel” on his bag, referring to a Star of David badge pinned to his satchel.
The complaint claims Huq devised “a separate line of questioning based on Judaism and loyalty to Israel” when interviewing another Jewish candidate in September.
“We don’t comment on staffing matters. Any suggestion that Rupa is antisemitic or has acted inappropriately is entirely false and malicious,” a spokesperson for Huq said in reference to the complaint.
The Labour Party has been engulfed in allegations of antisemitism, treated as a hate crime in the UK as hostility or prejudice towards Jews.
“We take all complaints seriously and they are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures,” a Labour statement said.
The allegation against Huq comes at a time when the party is under pressure regarding another newly-elected MP, Lisa Forbes, who apologised for liking an anti-Semitic post on social media. Forbes narrowly won a by-election in Peterborough last week but has been under pressure over her past conduct.