THE Mayor of Salisbury has been expelled from the Conservative Party due to allegedly anti-Semitic messages, it has been confirmed. 

Councillor Atiqul Hoque has been expelled for sending "offensive and inappropriate comments on WhatsApp and social media", according to a statement released by the Conservative Party. 

The statement from the party did not disclose the nature of the messages that were the subject of the formal complaint, but following a BBC report, the party has now confirmed to the Journal that the messages were allegedly anti-Semitic. 

Live updates: Everything we know as Atiqul Hoque expelled for alleged antisemitism

The Journal understands there are messages sent by Cllr Hoque on WhatsApp which share negative stereotypes about Jewish people, and a Facebook post following the October 7 attack in Israel.

Councillor Hoque has been a Conservative city councillor for St Edmund’s since 2015, and Mayor since May 2023. He also briefly served as a Wiltshire councillor.  

You can read the Tory party's full statement here. 

Cllr Hoque, who maintains his innocence, says he has written to the Chairman of the party to offer his resignation - despite having already been expelled - and that he will appeal the decision. 

He also told the Journal that he wishes to continue his work as Mayor, which he will now undertake as an Independent, and to continue "representing the people of Salisbury".