Bradford MP criticised for Gaza Twitter comments

A Bradford MP faced a storm of protest today over comments he posted on Twitter about the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

David Ward, the Lib Dem MP for Bradford East, said if he lived in Gaza he would 'probably' fire a rocket at Israel.

Hundreds of civilians have died there in the past few weeks and world leaders have been calling for a ceasefire to stem the bloodshed.

Mr. Ward initially stood by his remarks but after widespread criticism, not least from his own party, he issued an apology. Chris Kiddey reports.

Bradford MP David Ward has apologised for comments he made on Twitter about Israel and Gaza.

The Liberal Democrat said in a statement through the party:

Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi has written to the chief of the Met Police, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe to ask him to investigate the comments by Liberal Democrat MP David Ward.

Read: Lib Dem: If I was in Gaza would I fire a rocket?

The Liberal Democrats have moved to distance themselves from comments made by one of their MPs regarding Israel and Gaza.

Bradford MP David Ward provoked outrage on Twitter after comments last night which he has since apologised for.

A party spokesperson said they "utterly condemn" his remarks:

The party has also distanced itself from comments by former Liberal Democrat MEP Ed McMillan-Scott in support of Mr Ward which criticised the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Chronicle:

A former Lib Dem MEP, Ed McMillan-Scott, has criticised a Jewish Community group and the editor of the Jewish Chronicle newspaper in tweet.

The tweet was deleted shortly after being posted, and an apology was issued this morning.

ITV News are awaiting a response from the Liberal Democrats.

The comments were in response to comments posted on Twitter yesterday from Liberal Democrat MP David Ward, who said he would "probably" fire a rocket at Israel if he lived in Gaza.

Read: Lib Dem MP: If I lived in Gaza would I fire a rocket?

Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps has called on Liberal Democrat MP David Ward to withdraw remarks made over the Israel-Gaza conflict, which Labour said was a "vile" comment by a "desperate" MP.

"Appalling: No MP should Tweet what's essentially incitement to violence," Mr Shapps said. "Mr Ward must withdraw now. Completely irresponsible."

Read: Lib Dem MP: If I lived in Gaza would I fire a rocket? Probably.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Bradford East was accused of inciting violence and faces a fresh disciplinary investigation after backing Hamas rocket attacks on Israel.

David Ward was suspended by the party for several weeks last year after making a string of controversial comments about Israel and Jews.

Now his future is once again in doubt after he used social media to give his verdict on the violence currently rocking the Middle East.

"The big question is - if I lived in Gaza would I fire a rocket? - probably yes," he posted on Twitter.

The party said it "utterly condemned" the remarks which "are not representative of the Liberal Democrats".

"Nick Clegg has been at the forefront of calling for peace in Israel and Gaza," a spokesman said in a statement.

"The party takes this matter very seriously and will treat it as a disciplinary issue."

Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps called on the MP to withdraw the remark, which Labour said was a "vile" comment by a "desperate" MP.

"Appalling: No MP should Tweet what's essentially incitement to violence," Mr Shapps said. "Mr Ward must withdraw now. Completely irresponsible."

Another Lib Dem MP, Stephen Williams, distanced himself from his party colleague's views.

"I think Israel's response is heavy handed but Hamas rocket firing is deplorable too," he told him. "I've seen school bomb shelters in S Israel."

Mr Ward, the MP for Bradford East, had the party whip restored in September after serving a suspension over a series of clashes with the Lib Dem hierarchy over his views on Israel and its treatment of the Palestinians.

The final straw for leadership was a posting in July last year questioning the future existence of the state of Israel which the party said broke a previous agreement to use "proportionate and precise" language when commenting on the issue.

Mr Ward condemned that ruling as "disproportionate" saying such views were widely shared.

A Labour spokesman said: "At a time when all sides should be working for a ceasefire and a peaceful settlement, it defies belief that a Liberal Democrat MP should tweet something so vile and irresponsible.

"Nick Clegg must act immediately to disassociate his party from this comment."