BEEB BIAS?
BBC failed to tell viewers second Tory debate guest worked for LABOUR after imam attacked for ‘anti-Semitic’ tweets
THE BBC is under fire after it emerged a second questioner on the BBC Tory debate last night worked for the Labour Party investigating anti-Semitism.
The Beeb was aware of Aman Thakar's links to Labour but did not tell the viewers.
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He was today suspended from his job at Leigh Day law firm after a questionable tweet he wrote about Hitler came to light.
He tweeted: "Hitler's abuse of the term nationalism is, to me, a nationalist, the most harmful part of his legacy."
Another guest on the show, imam Abdullah Patel, was also suspended from his job at a primary school today after he was attacked for his "anti-Semitic" tweets.
Mr Thakar, who was a Labour council candidate last year in Southwark and also worked in Labour HQ, asked the final question at last night's debate.
He was appointed in October 2018 to help investigate anti-Semitism in the party, the Guido Fawkes website reported. Under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership the party has been dogged by accusations of anti-Semitism and several Labour MPs quit in February.
The BBC said they didn't disclose any questioners' backgrounds.
A source said: "There isn't a barrier to people with past political affiliations".
Rob Burley, who edited the programme, tweeted: "There were also self-described Conservatives on the programme".
The Beeb has defended its vetting process after it was revealed that another guest on the show had shared allegedly anti-Semitic tweets.
Abdullah Patel has been suspended from the primary school he works for in Gloucester after his critical comments about Israel came to light.
Mr Patel wrote: "Every Political figure on the Zionist's payroll is scaring the world about Corbyn. They don't like him. He seems best suited to tackle them!"
ANTI-ISRAEL TWEETS
In another tweet, he posted: "FOUND THE SOLUTION! America wants to look after Israel? I’ve got a way to make them neighbours! (Until Israel attack)”
The imam also suggested women were at fault for sex attacks.
He tweeted: “Let's make something clear: Generally, men are the predators, but women need to realise this and be smarter.
“It takes 2 to tango, and if you put yourself in that position, don't expect every man to pass up the opportunity to take advantage of you. Don't be alone with a man!”
In response programme editor Mr Burley said Mr Patel's Twitter account had been deactivated ahead of his appearance on the BBC debate - meaning his tweets could not be read.
He said: "It was AFTER the show that Mr Patel reactivated his account revealing his tweets.
"We wouldn't have put him on the programme if these were public before broadcast, but they were not. We also carried out a number of other routine checks which didn't uncover anything untoward."
Mr Patel has taken down his Twitter account again after the past tweets came to light.
'EXTREMELY DISTURBING'
Earlier, BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Nicky Campbell, who had Mr Patel on his breakfast show, apologised and said the imam had made "extremely disturbing" remarks on Twitter and that he was "sorry" the broadcaster had not checked beforehand.
Mr Campbell tweeted: "I would like to apologise. We had the Imam from the BBC Tory leadership debate on our programme this morning.
"His social media comments have been extremely disturbing. We should have checked. We didn't. I'm sorry."
The Board of Deputies of British Jews, the community's representative organisation, issued a scathing response to the BBC's apology.
Vice President, Amanda Bowman said: "Nicky Campbell is correct in saying that the BBC should have made checks before allowing a man who has made antisemitic statements on social media to appear on the Conservative leadership debate and on BBC Five Live.
"We appreciate his apology and hope the BBC will ensure that racists like this do not receive a platform in future.”
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Corbynite Mr Patel grilled all five Tory hopefuls on the BBC's Our Prime Minister debate last night and accused the MPs of “peddling hate” - before asking if they knew if "words had consequences".
However, a furore erupted this morning when it was revealed that the Bristol imam had shared a number of offensive tweets about Israel and blamed women for rape.
He was today suspended from all school duties at Al-Ashraf Primary School where he is deputy head.
Yakub Patel, the chairman of the Al-Madani Educational Trust, said it a statement on the school's website: "Following some of the comments attributed to Mr Patel in the media this morning, the trust has decided to suspend him from all school duties with immediate effect until a full investigation is carried out.
"The school and trust do not share the views attributed to him."
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