Full Breakdown
Two Green Party Candidates Arrested Over Alleged Antisemitic Social-Media Posts
5/1/2026, 6:06:21 PM
Arrest Sparks Antisemitism Probe
Metropolitan Police officers detained two women on Thursday morning after a report on 21 April flagged antisemitic material posted online. The suspects, aged 57 and 54, are standing as Green Party candidates for Lambeth council seats in Streatham St Leonard’s and Clapham Town. Police say they are being held on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred under section 19 of the Public Order Act 1986.
Background: Online Posts and Rising Tensions
The investigation follows a wave of antisemitic incidents in north-west London, including the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green earlier in the week. The government has pledged an additional £25 million for security at synagogues, schools and community centres, raising its total commitment for the year to £58 million. The alleged posts surfaced in a Spectator investigation and were later reproduced by The Telegraph and The Independent.
Who Were the Candidates?
- Saiqa Ali – 57, community leader and founder of the Southern Women’s Aid Network, listed as the Green candidate for Streatham St Leonard’s. Screenshots attributed to her show an image of an armed man wearing a Hamas-style headband with the caption “Resistance is freedom,” and a serpent wrapped around the Earth bearing the Star of David.
- Sabine Mairey – 54, local activist known for campaigning to save a threatened estate, standing in Clapham Town. An alleged post from her account read, “Ramming a synagogue isn’t anti-Semitism, it’s revenge.”
Both candidates have been suspended from the party pending the outcome of the police inquiry.
Timeline of Key Events
- 21 April – Concerns about antisemitic material reported to police.
- Early April – Spectator publishes screenshots of the candidates’ posts.
- Mid-April – Saiqa Ali issues a public apology, stating she “unequivocally rejects anti-Semitism.”
- Thursday (25 April) – Police arrest the two candidates.
- 26 April – Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer addresses the nation on antisemitism.
- 30 April – Media outlets release detailed accounts of the arrests.
Official Statements & Responses
- Metropolitan Police – Confirmed the arrests and the charge of stirring up racial hatred, emphasizing that the matter remains under investigation.
- Green Party – Declared the situation a police matter and refrained from further comment. Deputy leader Rachel Millward called the alleged comments “abhorrent” and said the party was “going through a disciplinary process.”
- Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer – urged the public to confront antisemitism, noting that such hatred “keeps happening” and must be countered by collective action.
- Government – Announced the £25 million security boost for Jewish communities.
Criticism & Opposition
Lambeth Labour officials accused the candidates of propagating “harmful tropes about Jewish people,” prompting calls for stricter vetting of party nominees. Anti-defamation groups have highlighted the posts as part of a broader pattern of online hate targeting the Jewish community.
Verbatim Quotes
- “ramming a synagogue isn’t anti-Semitism, it’s revenge.” — Sabine Mairey (attributed post)
- “Antisemitism is an old, old hatred, history shows that the roots are deep, and if you turn away, it grows back.” — Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister
- “unequivocally rejects anti-Semitism in all its forms” — Saiqa Ali (apology statement)
- “Police have arrested two women, aged 57 and 54, on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred online, an offence under section 19 of the Public Order Act 1986. They remain in police custody.” — Metropolitan Police
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact imagery shared: some describe a serpent bearing the Star of David, others note a Hamas-styled headband. The precise date of the arrests is identified only as “Thursday morning,” without a calendar date. Additionally, while Ali’s candidacy is confirmed by council documents, Mairey’s listing appears only in poll data and not on the party’s website.
What’s Next?
Local elections are scheduled for 7 May 2026. The Green Party is expected to complete its internal disciplinary review before the vote. The police investigation remains ongoing, and any further charges will depend on the outcome of forensic analysis of the online posts.
