Manchester Conservatives finally remove candidate from website five months after his endorsement by the Party was revoked following social media revelations

It has taken Manchester Conservatives some five months to remove from its website a local election candidate whose endorsement from the Party was revoked after social media revelations.

On 12th April, it was reported, Sham Raja Akhtar, a Conservative candidate for Sedgley ward in the 2022 local elections, had his endorsement by the Party revoked after numerous historic and inflammatory social media posts were uncovered, including one allegedly comparing Israeli footballers to “assassins”.

It was one instance of a wider pattern of scandals at the Bury North and South Conservative Association, about which Campaign Against Antisemitism has written to the Party.

It was also claimed that Mr Raja subsequently represented the Conservatives at a hustings as late as 23rd April, shortly before the election, an allegation that we also publicised and put to the Party.

Last week, local news revealed that Mr Raja was still listed as Deputy Chair of the Manchester Conservatives on its website, some five months after the scandal and after the Party supposedly cut ties with him.

Since that revelation, it appears that he has finally be removed from the website. Whether his association with the Party endures in the background remains to be seen.

Campaign Against Antisemitism advocates for zero tolerance of antisemitism in public life. To that end we monitor all political parties and strive to ensure that any cases of concern are properly addressed.

Image credit: Manchester Conservatives