REDBRIDGE councillor Tanweer Khan has rejoined the Labour party after a month-long suspension over allegations he made antisemitic remarks.
Khan had sat as an independent councillor since March while an internal investigation was carried out by Redbridge Labour.
The allegations related to posts on the social media app Labayk, a now-defunct platform owned by Khan, that attacked other companies as “Jewish-owned”.
The Mayfield ward councillor previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he was “100 per cent confident of being cleared and exonerated of all these false charges against me”.
His return to Labour was announced by mayor Sheila Bain at the end of an annual meeting of Redbridge council on last Thursday (16).
Council leader Jas Athwal had confirmed his re-admittance in a letter to Adrian Loades, the interim chief executive, on 22 April.
In a previous statement to the LDRS, Khan emphatically denied being behind the remarks.
He said: “These allegations date back to 2021, with stuff posted online by someone pretending to be me.
“As soon as I found out about them in December 2021, I had the posts taken down and informed the Labour party immediately.”
One such comment, made in Khan’s name, said: “I don’t understand why people are asking others on this platform to join their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, WhatsApp groups etc. These are pretty much all Jewish-owned platforms.”
Formal complaints had been lodged with the party in March 2022 and in November last year.
Khan had suspected a “strong political motive” behind the timing, adding: “The timing of this complaint is very suspect, as it coincides with an upcoming general election and when I am actively looking for a parliamentary seat.”
In October 2023, the entrepreneur had unsuccessfully stood to be the Labour candidate for Pendle and Clitheroe, in east Lancashire. He lost out to Jonathan Hinder, a former police constable who grew up locally.
With Khan no longer sitting as an independent councillor, Redbridge council now comprises 56 Labour members, five Conservatives, and two independents.
Khan declined to comment on his return to the party.
(Local Democracy Reporting Service)
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)