A Welsh Labour election candidate is under investigation after a message from his Twitter account described President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine as a “fascist”.
Ziad Alsayed is standing for both the Vale of Glamorgan Council and Barry Town Council in the Baruc ward at next month’s local government elections. In response to a tweet from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan that expressed solidarity with Ukraine following the country’s invasion by Russia by lighting up pictures of the UK capital in yellow and blue, Mr Alsayed’s account tweeted: “If you mean the Ukrainian people that’s OK, but not the fascist president”.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has sought to justify the invasion by claiming that Ukraine is run by “Nazis” and that the country needs to be “deNazified”. See all our stories on Welsh politics here.
In May 2021, another message from Mr Alsayed’s account described Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer as “disgusting”. This was in response to a tweet by former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell which stated: “In his speech to [right wing Labour group] Progress today it appears Keir Starmer has dumped Labour’s last manifestos.” The message from Mr Alsayed’s account said, in reference to Sir Keir, “He’s disgusting”.
Former Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns, the Conservative MP for Vale of Glamorgan, said: “'These comments could have come from the Kremlin's propaganda arm. Keir Starmer should say whether this individual continues to enjoy Labour's support.”
A spokesman for the Labour Party said: 'The party takes all complaints seriously. They are fully investigated and any appropriate action is taken.”
Announcing his candidacy on social media last month, Mr Alsayed wrote: “My name is and I am standing for the Vale and Barry Town Council election in the Baruc ward. 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.”
His Twitter profile describes him as an “international activist fighting for justice and equality” and adds: “stop imperialism spread it's [sic] germs”.
Mr Alsayed did not respond to a message we sent to him. The ward where he is standing for election currently has Plaid Cymru councillors. A Plaid source said: “He hasn’t been prominent in the community before. This isn't a tweet that is likely to go down well.”
