Labour candidate removed from shortlist for MP after sharing blood-soaked Israeli flag

A Labour activist bying to be its parliamentary candidate for South Suffolk has been removed from the shortlist after posts about Israel were uncovered, the JC understands.

Luke Cresswell was removed from the list after a post from 2014 came to light showing a blood-soaked Israeli flag. The image was captioned by Mr Cresswell: “Israel is evil. Long live Palestine.”

Mr Cresswell was previously suspended by the party in 2016 after the JC revealed a similar post which depicted an Israeli flag alongside the message: “God did not give you the land – the UK did illegally.”

In 2018, after being reinstated, Mr Cresswell was reported to the party again over different allegations, with no further action being taken.