Tory council candidate Gulzabeen Afsar suspended for remark about Ed MIliband 'The Jew'

A Tory council candidate has been suspended by her party after Jewish News revealed she said she would never support "the Jew" in an apparent reference to Ed Miliband, according to a report in The Jewish News.

Gulzabeen Afsar, who was standing in Derby, made the remarks in a Facebook exchange on Saturday.

She wrote: "Just can't take Mr Ed Miiband seriously!! DC has what it takes to be the future PM."

When another user suggested she should show some respect "for the future PM", Afsar replied: "Nah bro! never ever will I drop that low and support the al yahud [Arabic for Jew] lol."

The Tories branded the comments "offensive and wrong", adding that Afsar had removed them and apologised.

Following the response, the Jewish Leadership Council said in a tweet: "Insufficient response to an anti-Semitic slur. JLC believes disciplinary proceedings should be launched asap."

She was suspended on Monday 27 April, with only 10 days until the general election.

A spokesman for Derby Labour Party added: "With anti-semitism on the rise across Europe it is abhorrent and terrifying that a prospective Conservative politician would say something like this.

"Derby Conservatives should launch an immediate investigation into this incident and take the appropriate action. Derby must be free from prejudice, especially from those seeking elected office."

Mark Gardner, of the Community Security Trust - which monitors anti-semitism in Britain - said: "She knew exactly what she was saying and thought it funny. It was all public on Facebook, making her doubly stupid."

Jonathan Arkush, the vice-president of the Board of Deputies - the umbrella body of British Jews - added: "This was a disgraceful comment that should never have been made. I note the Conservative Party was swift to disown it. I intend to contact Ms Afsar and speak directly to her about her very disturbing attitude towards Jewish people."

Arkush is standing for president of the Board in the 17 May elections.