Labour council elections candidate faces probe amid backlash at tweet calling Ukrainian President Zelensky a ‘fascist’
- Ziad Alsayed made comment in response to UK showing solidarity with Ukraine
- He further told a columnist criticising Putin to ‘stay away from bad propaganda’
- Labour candidate also described party’s leader Sir Keir Starmer as ‘disgusting’
- Party said all complaints are ‘fully investigated and any appropriate action taken’
A Labour council elections candidate is facing a probe amid backlash at a tweet calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a ‘fascist’.
Ziad Alsayed made the comment in response to pictures of London lit up in yellow and blue to show solidarity with Ukraine after Russia’s invasion in February.
The Labour candidate, who is standing for Baruc in Barry next month, also described the party’s leader Sir Keir Starmer as ‘disgusting’ in a tweet from May last year.
Labour has since faced calls to kick him out, with one Tory MP saying the comments ‘could’ve come from Kremlin’s propaganda arm.’
Ziad Alsayed (pictured above) is facing a probe amid backlash at a tweet calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a ‘fascist’
The Labour candidate made the comment in response to pictures of London lit up in yellow and blue to show solidarity with Ukraine after Russia’s invasion in February
On February 25 the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, made a tweet alongside a series of photos showing Trafalgar Square illuminated in the colours of Ukraine’s flag.
He wrote: ‘Tonight, London lights up in solidarity with our friends in Ukraine. You are not alone.’
Mr Alsayed replied: ‘If you mean the Ukrainian people that’s OK, but not the fascist president.’
And in response to a columnist’s tweet criticising Putin’s actions in Ukraine, he said to ‘stay away from bad propaganda’.
Tory MP Alun Cairns told The Sun: ‘These comments could’ve come from the Kremlin’s propaganda arm.
‘Keir Starmer should say whether this individual continues to enjoy Labour’s support.’
And in response to a columnist’s tweet criticising Putin’s actions in Ukraine, the Labour candidate said to ‘stay away from bad propaganda’. Pictured: Zelensky on April 8
Baruc Labour has also been urged to condemn the views of Mr Alsayed, who is running in the ward’s Vale and Barry Town Council election.
He wrote last month: ‘As a member of this community I strongly feel that it is time for me to pay back some of what I owe to the town and the vale, with all my huge life experience.’
A Labour spokesman said: ‘The Party takes all complaints seriously. They are fully investigated and any appropriate action is taken.’
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