Calls to suspend London mayoral candidate accused of Islamophobia

Susan Hall, center, at Conservative party conference last week. (AFP)
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Updated 07 October 2023
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Calls to suspend London mayoral candidate accused of Islamophobia

  • Poll reveals two-thirds majority view Susan Hall’s social media activity as racist

LONDON: The Conservative candidate for London’s mayoralty is facing fresh criticism over controversial tweets and alleged Islamophobia, with a new poll finding that two-thirds of those surveyed view her social media activity as racist.

Several days ago, Susan Hall received the support of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in her bid to become mayor of the capital, The Guardian reported.

But a series of retweets and comments on social media have ignited controversy, with claims that the 68-year-old fails to “fairly represent” the diversity of the capital.

Hall had liked a tweet in support of former Conservative minister Enoch Powell, who delivered a speech in the 1960s linking immigration to “rivers of blood.”

The candidate also engaged in “Islamophobic tropes” concerning London mayor Sadiq Khan, The Guardian reported, adding that Hall claimed the mayor’s “divisive attitude” left Jewish residents frightened.

The poll, commissioned by advocacy group Hope Not Hate, found that six in 10 respondents believe Hall should be suspended from the Conservative party and investigated.

A further 64 percent said that they view a mayoral candidate who “likes“ Islamophobic tweets as racist.

Georgie Laming, director of campaigns at Hope Not Hate, said: “It’s clear that Londoners think that Hall is not fit to represent London.

“The Conservative party must suspend Susan Hall immediately and she must be removed as a candidate.”

Hall had also used X to reply to a tweet that described Khan as “our nipple-height mayor of Londonistan.”

The tweet was published by Katie Hopkins, a right-wing media personality, with Hall replying: “Thank you Katie!”

Hall, speaking to the Conservative Friends of Israel on the sidelines of the national party’s conference last week, said: “I live in north London and I know the wealth and joy of the (Jewish) community.”

Sunak said in his keynote speech at the conference that Hall “is doing a great job holding Sadiq Khan to account.”

In response to the findings of the Hope Not Hate poll, a spokesperson for Hall said: “Susan is proud to celebrate London’s diverse communities and as mayor she will fix the bread-and-butter issues that people care about — making our streets safer and putting money back in your pocket.

“Susan regularly engages with people on Twitter without endorsing their views and wholly condemns any racism or Islamophobia on the platform.”


India PM Modi’s party elects youngest-ever president with eye to youth vote

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India PM Modi’s party elects youngest-ever president with eye to youth vote

MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chose a little-known legislator from India’s poorest state as the party’s youngest president on Tuesday, ​a generational shift in the effort to retain young voters.
Nitin Nabin, 45, takes over from outgoing president J.P. Nadda, 65, months before key state elections, one of them in the eastern state of West Bengal, which the BJP has never won and is strongly focused ‌on.
A five-time ‌lawmaker from the eastern ‌state ⁠of ​Bihar, ‌Nabin was elected unopposed as the party’s 12th president after Modi and other leaders proposed him.
Hundreds of workers watched at party headquarters in New Delhi as Nabin, his forehead smeared with a vermillion mark and his shoulders wrapped in a scarf ⁠with the party symbol, took the oath of office before ‌Modi and four past presidents.
“When ‍it comes to the ‍party, I am a worker and ‍he is my boss,” Modi, 75, said in his remarks, pointing to Nabin, who will serve a three-year term.
In his speech, Nabin repeatedly praised Modi as ​a generational leader and urged young people to take an active part in politics.
More than ⁠40 percent of India’s one billion voters are aged between 18 and 39, the Election Commission and analysts estimate.
The BJP suffered a shock setback in the 2024 general election as Modi lost his majority after 10 years in power and had to rely on regional allies to form a government.
But it has since regained ground, winning critical state and civic body elections. The ‌party and its allies govern 19 of India’s 28 states.