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Lib Dem Councillor suspended after antisemitic tweets revealed

Pat Marsh attacked Jews as a “disgrace” to humanity

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Councillor Pat Marsh (Photo: The Liberal Democrats)

A Yorkshire Liberal Democrat councillor has been suspended from her party over social media posts attacking Jews as a “disgrace” to humanity.

Pat Marsh, who previously served as the mayor of Harrogate, was suspended over messages shared on X/Twitter between 24 January and 18 February.

The councillor has recently published a series of posts attacking Jews and Israel.

On 27 January, she wrote: "This is what you Jews are doing I hope you feel proud, you are a disgrace to this world."

On 5 February, Marsh wrote: "I hope you Jews out there feel proud of yourselves. For a so-called Religious Group you are evil."

Also in January, the former mayor said, "I hope you Jews feel proud of yourselves, your a disgrace to the world," and "I hope the Jews feel proud. What if these were their children."

Earlier this month, Marsh also shared a video titled “How Israel maintains control over the USA”.

It claimed this was partly thanks to “ethnic nepotism owning media” and that “Zionist Jews are an ownership class”.

Those in control of the press, it said, are part of a “cult” that mutilates infants, steals organs and manages paedophile rings. 

Marsh has insisted that she will serve the rest of her three-year term in office, however.

“I do not intend to resign and I will complete this term of office as an Independent,” she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"I am receiving quite a few emails of support from my residents asking me to remain as their Independent Councillor. I have worked for my residents and the wider community for 33 years and will continue to do so until my term of office ends.”

According to the BBC, the Harrogate councillor has denied that her posts were racist.

"I am against what they are doing to the Gazan people," Marsh said. "I'm just trying to be a human being. I'm not antisemitic."

A Liberal Democrat spokesman said: “These appalling antisemitic views have no place in our party, Ms Marsh has been removed from the council group and has been reported to the council’s Standard Officer.”

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