A CHARITY that hired former cricketer Azeem Rafiq has condemned antisemitism and announced that they will be ‘reviewing’ their ambassadors programme.
Rafiq, who hit headlines last week after exposing shocking acts of racism he had encountered during his time at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, has been labelled a hypocrite, after text messages containing racist tropes against Jews was leaked to the press.
In the exchange, Rafiq and fellow cricketer Ateeq Javid (who has so far seemingly escaped public outrage) mocked the Jewish community and referenced centuries-old antisemitic conspiracies relating to wealth, with Javid going as far as to use the term ‘Jew shit’.
Issuing an apology, the former cricketer said:
“I was sent an image of this exchange from early 2011 today. I have gone back to check my account and it is me – I have absolutely no excuses.
“I am ashamed of this exchange and have now deleted it so as not to cause further offence. I was 19 at the time and I hope and believe I am a different person today. I am incredibly angry at myself and I apologise to the Jewish community and everyone who is rightly offended by this.”
While the press were focused on Rafiq’s initial complaints of racism he’d experienced, British charity ‘MQ – Mental Health Research’ proudly announced that they had hired the cricketer into their ambassador program. Since VoteWatch enquired whether they will continue to work with Rafiq following recent revelations, the charity deleted a tweet welcoming him, telling VoteWatch’s Jay Beecher:
“Racist, antisemitic or otherwise discriminatory language and abuse is damaging both to individuals and wider society.
“The impact to mental health can be severe.”
“At MQ we are passionate about breaking down systems of inequality in the field of mental health research, diagnosis and treatment. We are currently reviewing our ambassadors programme in light of recent news” they added.
Members of the public are now calling for Azeem Rafiq to return the £200,000 he received in compensation, or to donate it to a charity fighting antisemitism.
LEGAL proceedings have been launched against a university for discriminating against white students – the first case of its kind in Britain.
Katie Fanning, a respected campaigner and law student, has registered her claim citing “instances of direct discrimination” throughout the course of her studies, and has heavily criticised her university for excluding white pupils from certain opportunities.
“I enrolled at my University assuming that all students would be treated with dignity, respect and that an equal level of opportunity and service would be offered to all students regardless of their race” said Fanning. “However, I like thousands of other white students, found myself in an openly racially discriminatory and hostile environment towards white students.
Katie Fanning has taken legal action against her university
“I have been subjected to several instances of direct discrimination and indirect discrimination throughout the course of my studies for my white racial characteristics by my university.
“When I raised my concerns and formal complaints regarding the application of extremist discriminatory critical race theory based policies such as bursary schemes for disadvantaged students that exclude white applicants, events that offer required internship and training contract opportunities that exclude white students, support groups that exclude white students and propaganda that incites hatred, animosity and violence towards the white community.
“I was subsequently advised by a member of the university staff that the institution does indeed discriminate against white students in their desire to “even the playing field” (as stated in their internal emails).
“I was then subjected to harassment, intimidation and victimisation as punishment for raising these concerns and making formal complaints of discrimination and racism.
Critical Race Theory is being taught in a growing number of schools and employee training programs
“I have since had my university go so far as to instruct the police to visit me at my home unannounced to ask me “why I have issues with Black Lives Matter?” along with other forms of intimidation and harassment after I had informed them that I was in the process of taking legal action against them due to exhausting all options to resolve my complaints internally.
“This racially-motivated discrimination, harassment and subsequent victimisation has had a profoundly negative impact on my studies and wellbeing.
“This aggressive racially motivated discrimination, marginalisation and persecution by my university must not go unchallenged.”
Miss Fanning appears to be a force to be reckoned with, refusing to back down from holding the university to account.
Her advanced legal claims against the ‘woke’ Uni fall mainly under the Equality Act, 2010, and include direct discrimination, harassment, and a complaint against the teaching of Critical Race Theory.
“Critical race theory,” a once-obscure academic concept, was imported from the U.S. and has been slammed for its divisiveness and for promoting racist terms and ideas such as ‘white privilege’ and ‘whiteness’.
The concept has in recent months been condemned by the government, with Kemi Badenoch stating that it should not be part of any curriculum.
“The Critical Race Theory enforced ideology that permeates through all areas of university life that portray “whiteness” and white racial and ethnic groups in a negative, derogatory, inflammatory and aggressive manner enforces an environment that is intimidating, degrading and humiliating for white students.
“Within the course materials we were instructed to participate in the online forums and get to know other students, mentors and professors. I did as instructed and introduced myself on the introductory Law forum.
“After reading through posts and exploring more of the universities online platforms I became aware that there were services, financial help schemes such a bursaries, consultations only for BAME students.
“There were also a number of events and opportunities only available for none white student to meet potential employers for internships or training contracts .
“It was also Black History month so there were a daily publications which included the inaccurate dissemination of history as to stir up animosity and hostility towards the white population, statements of support for the terrorist Organisation BLM and publications describing whiteness in a negative manner.
Latest research shows that poor white students are the most disadvantaged group in Britain’s educational system
“It was difficult not to notice the unwelcoming and hostile environment for white students or disparity in favourable treatment afford to none white students throughout the university’s policies and operations.
“White Children and Students are being negatively impacted by the overt anti-white racism and neglect within education in a profound and devastating manner. Since 2007 the white working class of Britain have been one of the smallest demographics attending university or attaining higher educational qualifications.
“The anti-white agenda within education along with the overly zealous attentiveness to the interests of other (minority) ethnicities, underpinned by the current Equal Opportunities regime. The “white working class”, as a disadvantaged group are subject to prejudice, we go unregistered in Equal Opportunities Monitoring and are excluded out on the kinds of interventions and incentives made available to none white students.
“White students are subjected to a hostile and degrading environments by their educational providers, are excluded from opportunities to enhance their employability, are subjected to racial harassment that is intimidating and degrading and are most of all neglected by the education system they pay for. This is true from primary to university.
Fanning says she was visited by police simply for opposing the often violent movement ‘Black Lives Matter’
“This is why there is such an issue with underachievement and low participation of the white working class within our education system. With white males being the most persecuted and discriminated against in the name of ‘equality’.”
Katie’s claim was formally issued on 10th of August, and she has since granted the university’s legal team an extension to file their defence.
“Since formally serving on the respondents I have received communication from the respondents legal team asking for an extension to file a defence.
“The responses prior to the formal issue of claim were to attempt to punish and intimidate me – even sending police to my house to ask “why I have issues with BLM”.
“What I wish to achieve is justice” she added. “My University, like many others, makes no distinction between white students from disadvantaged backgrounds and white students who are not – labelling all white students as privileged. This toxic discrimination must end – and I’ll continue to fight to make that happen.”
VoteWatch will be following Miss Fanning’s case closely and will provide an update in due course.
A Labour Councillor who called Jews ‘murderers’ and claimed Israel created ISIS, has been readmitted into the party, and continues to share anti-Jewish comments online, VoteWatch can exclusively reveal.
Councillor Tasleem Fazal from Blackburn and Darwen Council was suspended in 2020 after a video emerged on social media in which he was heard hurling a barrage of abuse at Jewish protestors.
Cllr Tasleem Fazel (second from left) was suspended for antisemitism
Posted by the now deactivated account “CH Tassy Fazal”, Fazal is recorded yelling at a group of demonstrators holding Israeli flags and “peace for Israel and Gaza” signs, calling them “murderers, murderers, murderers… you’re all murderers”.
The video also recorded Cllr Fazal claiming that ISIS had been created by Zionists.
However, an email written by Council leader Mohammed Khan, and subsequently leaked to VoteWatch, confirms that Cllr Fazal has now been quietly readmitted into the party – despite Sir Keir Starmer claiming to be taking a strong stance against antisemitism.
VoteWatch previously revealed that Mr Khan was evidently a supporter of the disgraced Councillor, and had been actively ignoring Fazal’s suspension from the Labour Party.
In a letter written by a group referring to themselves as ‘Blackburn Labour Muslim Councillors’, Blackburn’s leader and a string of Labour councillors clearly refer to Mr Fazal as a sitting ‘LABOUR Councillor’, and even allow him to sign the letter in an attempt to pressure parliament into condemning Israel.
During his now-lifted suspension, it appears that Cllr Fazal spent much of his time using his social media platforms to continue attacking Israel, including promoting posts that use antisemitic tropes claiming Israel are the ‘masters’ of America, and pondering over whether the very existence of Israel can be challenged through the courts.
The Labour Party in Blackburn has been the focus of numerous VoteWatch investigations, with scandals taking place almost on a monthly basis.
In May, another Blackburn Labour Councillor was suspended after spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories, including that Israelis were ‘kidnapping children and harvesting their organs’.
Just months before, the city’s Labour mayor, Iftakhar Hussain, resigned after being caught breaking lockdown laws to attend a wedding party. And months later, a well-respected female councillor, Saima Afzal, left the party after accusing colleagues of engaging in a campaign of sexism and harassment against her.
In July, VoteWatch exclusively released footage showing Blackburn Labour Councillor Mafooz Hussain telling a Covid volunteer to ‘fuck off’, before later revealing that Council leader Mohammed Khan, whose council was placed under police investigation over alleged corruption, had referred to Conservative politicians and their supporters as ‘dirty, lying b*stards’.
Speaking to VoteWatch, a spokesperson for Blackburn Conservatives said:
“Blackburn Conservatives condemn all forms of extreme hate ideologies. Despite his suspension, Cllr Fazal continues with his hateful antisemitic ideology.
“It is deplorable that Blackburn Labour Party have taken him back.
“We would like to ask why the Labour Party continue to stand him despite his recent online antisemitic comments.”
ANTI-TERROR police have taken over the investigation into today’s tragic murder of MP David Amess.
The 69-year-old Conservative MP suffered multiple injuries in the attack whilst holding a surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea.
Essex Police said a 25-year-old man from Somalia had been arrested on suspicion of murder, and that counter-terror detectives are currently investigating his motivations.
The arrested man’s home has already been raided, with his records, phone calls, and internet history being sifted through by police and agents.
Sir David was a long-serving Conservative MP
Essex Police chief constable Ben-Julian Harrington said: “The investigation is in the very early stages and is being led by officers from the Metropolitan Police’s specialist Counter Terrorism Command.
“We made it clear at the time of the incident that we did not believe there was any immediate threat to anyone else in the area.
“It will be for investigators to determine whether or not this may have been a terrorist incident. As always they will keep an open mind.”
Amess was attacked inside a church in his local constituency
Meanwhile, as condolences pour in from across the country, Brendan Cox, widower of the late Jo Cox who tragically met a similar fate in 2016, said: “My thoughts and love are with David’s family. They are all that matter now. This brings everything back.
“The pain, the loss, but also how much love the public gave us following the loss of Jo. I hope we can do the same for David now.”
Mr Cox said attacking MPs was an “attack on democracy itself”, adding: “There is no excuse, no justification. It is as cowardly as it gets.”
Sir David is survived by his wife and five children.
CONSERVATIVE MP Sir David Amess has tragically passed away after being attacked by a knifeman, it has now been confirmed.
The respected MP, who has represented Southend West in Essex since 1997, was attacked at Belfairs Methodist church in Leigh-on-Sea.
The motive behind the murder is still unknown.
Condolences have been flooding in for the veteran MP’s family
Staff at Amess’s office said they did not know any further details and were awaiting updates.
“A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was stabbed in Leigh-on-Sea” Essex police confirmed in a statement.
“We were called to an address in Eastwood Road North shortly after 12.05pm today (Friday 15 October).
“We attended and found a man injured. He was treated by emergency services but, sadly, died at the scene.
“A 25-year-old man was quickly arrested after officers arrived at the scene on suspicion of murder and a knife was recovered. He is currently in custody.
“We are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.”
This is a breaking story. VoteWatch will update in due course.
MP Claudia Webbe, who continues to campaign for the Labour Party despite being suspended, has today been found guilty of issuing disturbing violent threats and making abusive phone calls to another woman.
Appearing in Westminster Magistrates’ court, Webbe, 56, was described as having been ‘obsessed’ and paranoid over the friendship between her boyfriend and victim Michelle Merritt.
Not only did Webbe threaten to attack Ms Merritt with acid, but the Leicester MP also threatened to reveal naked photographs and videos she supposedly had of Merritt to her family – including directly threatening to send the images to her children.
Webbe attended court with her partne
Susannah Stevens, prosecuting, said: “The reason for the harassment appeared to be the fact that Ms Merritt was friends with Lester Thomas and this was an issue for the defendant, Ms Webbe.
“The harassment initially took the form of telephone calls that were made by Ms Webbe to Ms Merritt.”
Made from a withheld number, the calls were silent and of a short duration, the court was told. They tended to occur when Merritt was with Thomas.
Stevens said: “When [Merritt] answered the call, the person on the other end would not respond and would then hang up.”
In October 2018 , Merritt received a call from a number that could be seen. She put the number into the search engine Google, and discovered it belonged to Webbe, the court was told.
“She saw this because the number was available on the internet because Claudia Webbe is a Labour MP and the phone number appears on Labour literature and also a Leicester council website.”
A friend of Merritt asked Webbe to refrain from making calls, but on 31 March 2019, the harassment escalated, the court was told, when she spoke to Merritt.
“Indeed, the crown say that Claudia Webbe was in such a state during this call that not only did she query the nature of the contact and refuse to accept that Ms Merritt and Lester Thomas were just friends. She then went on to say that Ms Merritt was a ‘slag’ and she should ‘be acid’,” Stevens said.
“The defendant further threatened Ms Merritt that naked photographs and videos of her would be sent to Ms Merritt’s children.
“The court will hear that Michelle was, perhaps not surprisingly, caused considerable distress by this call,” Stevens said.
“MP Claudia Webbe has been convicted of harassment after the Crown Prosecution Service showed she made a number of obsessive nuisance calls to a woman over an 18-month period” a statement released today by the CPS begins.
Webbe will be sentenced in November
“Webbe, 56, was found guilty of harassment today (13 October) after Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard evidence she made numerous short, silent telephone calls from a withheld number, before hanging up.
“In March 2019 Webbe spoke to her victim, threatened to use acid against her, and threatened that naked photographs and videos of the victim would be shared. There is no suggestion the images were real.
“Despite being asked to stop by police she continued, making at least 15 further calls after April 2019.
“A final threatening call in April 2020 was recorded by the victim when Webbe again made the threat to release naked images, prompting police to interview her.
“Specialist Prosecutor Lisa Rose of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: “Claudia Webbe’s persistent nuisance behaviour caused considerable distress and alarm to her victim who became genuinely concerned for her safety.
“Webbe told police she did not appreciate the calls were unwanted or causing distress. However the prosecution case was that the police had issued her with a clear warning about her conduct.
“No-one should have to endure this sort of harassment. We are determined to bring perpetrators to justice and help protect victims.”
CLAUDIA Webbe appeared in court today charged with making a series of harassing phone calls and disturbing threats.
The MP had been released on unconditional bail after the Metropolitan Police supplied evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service detailing claims of harassment between 1st September 2018 and 26th April 2020.
Webbe (middle) appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ court today
Appearing in Westminster Magistrates’ court today, Webbe, 56, was described as having been ‘obsessed’ and paranoid over the friendship between her boyfriend and Michelle Merritt.
Not only did Webbe allegedly threaten to attack Ms Merritt with acid, but the Leicester MP also threatened to reveal naked photographs and videos she supposedly had of Merritt to her family – including directly threatening to send the images to her children.
Susannah Stevens, prosecuting, said: “The reason for the harassment appeared to be the fact that Ms Merritt was friends with Lester Thomas and this was an issue for the defendant, Ms Webbe.
“The harassment initially took the form of telephone calls that were made by Ms Webbe to Ms Merritt.”
The MP has pleaded not guilty to one charge of harassment
Made from a withheld number, the calls were silent and of a short duration, the court was told. They tended to occur when Merritt was with Thomas.
Stevens said: “When [Merritt] answered the call, the person on the other end would not respond and would then hang up.”
In October 2018 , Merritt received a call from a number that could be seen. She put the number into the search engine Google, and discovered it belonged to Webbe, the court was told.
“She saw this because the number was available on the internet because Claudia Webbe is a Labour MP and the phone number appears on Labour literature and also a Leicester council website.”
A friend of Merritt asked Webbe to refrain from making calls, but on 31 March 2019, the harassment escalated, the court was told, when she spoke to Merritt.
“Indeed, the crown say that Claudia Webbe was in such a state during this call that not only did she query the nature of the contact and refuse to accept that Ms Merritt and Lester Thomas were just friends. She then went on to say that Ms Merritt was a ‘slag’ and she should ‘be acid’,” Stevens said.
“The defendant further threatened Ms Merritt that naked photographs and videos of her would be sent to Ms Merritt’s children.
“The court will hear that Michelle was, perhaps not surprisingly, caused considerable distress by this call,” Stevens said.
Ms Merritt told the court she had known Mr Thomas for more than 15 years and that they were both “good friends”, having previously dated.
“There was a pattern that whenever I had even met with Lester Thomas, if we had gone out for a drink or something, there would be a phone call,” she said, giving evidence from behind a screen.
“When you are being called and no-one answers, it’s unnerving, especially as a woman who lives alone.”
Merritt told the court that, on the first occasion of harassment, Webbe said: ‘You’re a slag and you should be acid’.
“She [Webbe] confirmed she knew where I lived and would send pictures and videos to my daughters” she added.
The trial continues. VoteWatch will provide a further update later today.
AS the Labour Party continues to be plagued by antisemites and racists, more Councillor faces the chop over bigoted comments.
Wirral Councillor Jo Bird has received notice from the national party that she may face ‘auto expulsion’ over her connection with Labour Against The Witchhunt – a growing campaign group accused of downplaying antisemitism within the party.
In a series of speeches at one of the proscribed group’s meetings, Bird gave her support to members who had been expelled, before writing that claims of antisemitism were taken more seriously by Labour than other forms of racism.
Cllr Jo Bird has received a notice of auto expulsion from the party
She has also appeared to compare herself and similar activists to the victims of the Holocaust, rewriting a famous poem about Nazi persecution to say, “They came for the anti-zionists, and I stood up because I was not a target, I stood up in solidarity. And then they came for the socialists but they couldn’t get us because we were having a party, the Labour Party.”
Bird later apologised over her characterisation of the party’s inquiry process, saying, “I am sorry for any offence caused by my play on words. That was not my intention.”
Attacking the expulsion of activist Marc Wadsworth, however, Bird shockingly wrote that “due process” should be known as “Jew process” – a comment that led to her initial investigation.
Under Keir Starmer, the Labour Party is desperately trying to improve its image following the EHRC’s damning report on their widespread bigotry and racism.
Cllr Bird with disgraced former Labour MP Chris Williamson
To help achieve this, the affiliation of members with numerous groups has been banned.
Alongside LATW, those other groups affected include the Labour In Exile Network (LIEN), and Resist, founded by ex MP Chris Williamson.
A fourth group, the militant ‘Socialist Appeal’ were proscribed for their support for Marxism and ‘extreme’ ideologies.
The Labour Party has issued a series of notifications threatening auto expulsion, including Leah Levane, co-chair of JVL (Jewish Voice for Labour), over her involvement with the LEIN group.
Responding to the notice, Levane said:”I feel angry to receive this letter, but also feel honoured to be in the firing line at the same time and for the same reasons as many other excellent committed socialists.”
A LABOUR Councillor from Manchester suspended last year in mysterious circumstances, has been officially charged today over the alleged historical rape of a minor.
Carl Ollerhead, 40, was suspended by the town hall’s Labour group last year after the below allegations were made on social media.
Ollerhead has been charged with three counts of indecent assault, following an investigation by Staffordshire Police’s rape and serious sexual offences team.
Mr Ollerhead was first elected to Manchester council in 2012 to represent Didsbury West. He was later elected to represent the Moston ward in 2016 and re-elected in 2018.
Before his suspension in June last year, Mr Ollerhead was serving as the council’s executive member for finance and human resources.
He will appear before magistrates at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre on the 28th September.
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, has recently been doing everything he can to avoid the large and pressing topic of Afghanistan.
On the weekend when the Afghanistan situation was developing, the White House Press Office issued weekend guidance which announced President Biden will be staying from Friday 13th August till Wednesday 18th August at Camp David – that’s 5 days away from the White House during a significant foreign policy crisis.
People picked up on this – pressure was forced on the White House, and President Biden was forced to end his visit to Camp David and fly back to the White House.
Biden has been heavily criticised by politicians across the world
Upon his return, Biden gave an address on Afghanistan – taking no questions – where he shifted blame largely to the Afghan military for not doing anything to defend their country.
At yesterday’s recall of Parliament, many MPs spoke in disgust regarding the President’s remarks; and it didn’t go down too well on his side of the ocean either.
Yet – to the shock of many – shortly after the President gave this address, correspondents found an alert in their inboxes… the President was returning back to Camp David.
The White House stated that the President continued to receive national security briefings from the holiday retreat – but it raises a fairly simple question:
Wouldn’t it be easier to receive the latest information at the White House where you have all your team?
On Tuesday evening Biden returned to the White House on Marine One (very climate friendly… not). He did not have any public events upon his return.
It’d be reasonable to think that now the President has returned to the White House he will be focusing on Afghanistan… Nope. As per the POTUS’ schedule released to members of the press, nothing on the agenda related to Afghanistan.
He did, however, have a COVID Address – but allowed no questions to be asked.
Yesterday, Thursday the 19th of August, a national security briefing on Afghanistan was held in the situation room. Closed to the press. No questions to be taken.
The one time he did engage with the press was in an interview with ABC where he forgot when the events of Afghanistan happened.
In this interview, Biden was asked about the shocking videos of people clinging onto U.S. military aircraft, and replied ‘That was four days ago! That was five days ago!”
Perhaps viewers can imagine the sighs emanating from the White House Press Secretary.
With it coming up to the weekend, President Biden often heads to his home state of Delaware. It is yet to be confirmed if he intends to do so this week.
VOTEWATCH 