EXCL Sadiq Khan condemns 'offensive' anti-Israel bus stop ads
2 min read
Sadiq Khan has condemned adverts being put up on bus stops describing Israel as "a racist endeavour".
The London mayor spoke out after several rogue ads were posted on shelters around the capital.
They appear to be a reaction to the decision by Labour's ruling body to fully adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism.
However, Jeremy Corbyn had to withdraw an attempt to add a caveat which would have allowed Labour members to describe "Israel, its policies or the circumstances around its foundation as racist because of their discriminatory impact".
The bus stop ads are being put up by campaign group LDNPalestineAction and say: "Israel is a racist endeavour".
A spokesperson for the London mayor said: "These offensive adverts are not authorised and are acts of vandalism which Transport for London and its advertising partner takes extremely seriously. They have instructed their contractors to remove any posters found on their network immediately."
In a statement, Transport for London said: "These adverts are absolutely not authorised by TfL or our advertising partner JCDecaux.
"It is fly posting and therefore an act of vandalism which we take extremely seriously. We have instructed our contractors to remove any of these posters found on our network immediately.
"We have spoken to JCDecaux and they believe that there are six such posters in London. We are working together to take them down as soon as possible."
A spokesperson for Labour said: “This material hasn't been created or endorsed by the Labour Party.”
The Prime Minister's spokesman said: "She was very clear yesterday in her absolute condemnation of anti-Semitism and how it's simply unacceotable for people to make these sorts of statements."
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