• Friday, March 29, 2024

HEADLINE STORY

MP Naz Shah says she was made to feel suicidal by Salma Yaqoob

Naz Shah (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

By: Keerthi Mohan

A LABOUR MP has once again opened up about being diven to “contemplating suicide” by a West Midlands mayoral candidate from her own party.

Naz Shah, the shadow minister of state for women and equalities, took to Twitter on Tuesday (22) to reiterate her claims that Salma Yaqoob, who ran as an independent candidate against Shah in Bradford West in 2017, had “driven her to feeling suicidal.”

 

The Labour MP said that in the 2017 campaign she was targeted for not being “most Muslim” for her decision not to wear a hijab. Shah has also accused Yaqoob of carrying out a “despicable” campaign against her, allegedly attacking her “honour” and class.

“She gave a platform for me to be ‘hijab-shamed’, which I can only equate to ‘slut-shaming’. She is no socialist, this is George Galloway style politics,” said Shah.

Shah is now expected to launch a legal action against her party over the selection of Yaqoob as a mayoral candidate.

The legal action is understood to focus on Yaqoob’s time in the party.

Yaqoob has been a member of the Labour Party only for around four months. Candidates normally have to be members for two years before they are considered eligible to stand for election.

Addressing these accusations, Yaqoob has previously said: “I did not run or endorse a campaign of misogyny, patriarchy and clan politics. Even as a political opponent I showed [Naz Shah] respect as a woman and a public figure.

“As Shadow Equalities and Women Minister, I would hope she would welcome the principle of women coming forward for political office – even those she disagrees with. I am saddened that she is lobbying nationally to limit the right of local Labour members to make their own choice by seeking to remove me from even a potential shortlist.”

 

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