Vicki Kirby suspended from Labour Party pending 'big nosed Jew' tweets investigation

A former Labour parliamentary candidate has been suspended from the party for a second time pending an investigation into a series of anti-Semitic tweets. Vicki Kirby was previously suspended by the party in September 2014 for posting tweets claiming Hitler might be the "Zionist god" and asking why Islamic State (Isis) haven't attacked "the real oppressors" Israel.

Elsewhere, Kirby tweeted in 2011: "What do you know abt [sic] Jews? They've got big noses and support Spurs lol" and added in a conversation on the social media site: "We invented Israel when saving them from Hitler, who now seems to be their teacher."

The Labour party lifted her suspension and she was handed a warning about her future conduct later that year following the conclusion of the investigation.

As reported by political blog Guido Fawkes, Kirby has since been appointed chair of Woking Labour Party's executive committee. According to Woking Labour's website, Kirby is also described as a trade union liaison officer and communications and campaigns co-ordinator despite controversy over her past online behaviour.

The news emerged after the party became embroiled in another anti-Semitism row involving allegations about their members at Oxford University. Several Labour MPs criticised their own party for lifting Kirby's suspension in 2014 while promising to combat "completely unacceptable" anti-Semitic abuse.

A Labour spokesperson has now confirmed Kirby is being investigated again, adding: "Vicki Kirby has been suspended from the Labour party pending an investigation."

Reacting to Kirby's suspension, Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham told the BBC's Daily Politics: "I am glad to hear that because from what I have seen the comments were completely abhorrent.

He added: "Labour has always led from the forefront in tackling anti-Semitism and I am glad to hear that this action has been taken today. And to be honest, for a party that believes in true equality and has always fought racism and xenophobia of all kinds, we have to maintain full public confidence in our procedures. I want there to be no question at all that our party has no tolerance at all of any form of anti-Semitism, Islamaphobia or any other kind of racism."

Labour's Barnsley East MP Michael Dugher, also a vice-chair of Labour Friends of Israel, told the Jewish Chronicle: "I don't doubt Jeremy Corbyn's revulsion at anti-Semitism, but the party leadership must learn lessons from this. But Labour will be judged by what we do, not by what we say. We must take these issues incredibly seriously straightaway and act immediately.

"The perception that when it comes to antisemitism, the leadership are painfully slow to act and that they only do so after a public backlash from Labour MPs is regrettable."

Elsewhere, Kevin McKeever, a Labour candidate hoping to become Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said he has contacted Surrey Police over allegations Kirby breached race relations and public order laws with her comments.