A Conservative Blackburn councillor has hit out after he was accused of following a ‘Zionist supporting party', by saying former Iraqi tyrant Saddam Hussein was his "hero".

Cllr Altaf 'Tiger' Patel said he had been sent many messages over the past few days from people who had accused him of supporting an ‘Zionist’ and ‘anti-Muslim’ party.

It follows a message being shared in the community which showed Prime Minister Liz Truss saying she was a ‘Zionist’ and a ‘huge supporter of Israel’ at a Conservative Friends of Israel meeting.

Earlier this summer Cllr Patel had sent out a video publicly backing Liz Truss in her bid to become a Prime Minister, and was pictured with her during the Manchester hustings during the Tory leadership election.

With strong feelings within his community over Palestine and the treatment of Palestinians by the government of Israel, Cllr Patel was asked to respond to the comment made by Liz Truss.

It prompted Cllr Patel to share another message, which featured Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer talking about ‘Jewish heritage’ within his family.

Cllr Patel said: “I got some people sending me the message over the past few days.

“In my opinion none of the parties stand up for Muslims when it comes to Israel. So, to single out the Conservative Party is wrong.

“I do not agree with what Liz Truss said. I am against it. That is her personal opinion not mine.

“When she was a candidate, I supported her as she knows about British culture. I stand by that.

“As a councillor I may be Conservative but people voted for me because of the work I have done. My job is to support the local community in any way I can.”

Cllr Patel said he was forced to compare the actions of the Tory party in foreign affairs with that of Labour in a further message.

In it, he accuses the Labour Party of igniting anti-Muslim sentiment following the ill-fated invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the overthrow of brutal dictator Saddam Hussein.

He said: “All the Labour people accusing me need to take a long hard look at what the Labour Party was doing under Tony Blair.

“Saddam Hussein was my hero. He kept the whole region in check and he was a security for the region.

“They hung Saddam in 2007.

“I didn’t see people making big issues then. Millions of Muslims died due to the wars and it was the Labour Party government in charge.

“What have Labour party supporters got to say to about that? Speak out.”

Labour councillor Salim Sidat who also represents the Audley and Queens Park ward said he would not respond to the comments made by Cllr Patel.

He said: “Any response needs to be directed at the local Labour party leadership.”