Rachel Reeves was accused of an ‘appalling lack of judgment’ today over her ‘friendship’ with a ‘fanatic’ Islamist preacher.
Reform said the Chancellor was trying to ‘save her own skin’ in her Leeds constituency by associating with Arshad Khatana.
A Labour spokesman insisted Ms Reeves was not aware of ‘abhorrent views’ apparently expressed by Mr Khatana online.
It is understood he has been administratively suspended from the party pending an investigation.
A dossier produced by Reform – and launched by Mr Jenrick in a video posted on social media – said Ms Reeves had been pictured with Mr Khatana 27 times since 2010.
The file claims that Mr Khatana, who has served as Chairman of Leeds Council of Mosques, shared a video about the Pakistani military, featuring an individual from a group designated as a terrorist organisation in the UK.
Mr Khatana’s mosque is said to have hosted preacher Muhammad Adil Shahzad, who was previously accused of suggesting people should not use Google because it is ‘run by the Jews’.
Reform said Mr Khatana also shared ‘conspiracy theories’ about the September 11 attacks and an international ‘lending mafia’ run by ‘Zionist Rothschild criminals’.
The allegations from Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick come as Reform steps up warnings over ‘sectarian’ voting in Britain.
Nigel Farage yesterday reiterated his alarm at the Gorton & Denton by-election, after asking police to probe ‘concerningly high levels’ of so-called ‘family voting’.
It also comes on the eve of Ms Reeves delivering her Spring Statement, which will include what is expected to be a gloomy update on the economy.
Reform’s Robert Jenrick has stepped up warnings over ‘sectarian’ voting in Britain
A dossier produced by Reform – and launched by Mr Jenrick in a video posted on social media – said Ms Reeves had been pictured with Mr Khatana 27 times since 2010
Mr Jenrick said: ‘This is an appalling lack of judgement from Rachel Reeves.’
A Labour Party spokesman said: ‘These abhorrent views are clearly not shared by the Chancellor. She was not aware of these allegations.’
There was no immediate response to requests for comment from the mosque where Mr Khatana is believed to be based.
Mr Jenrick said: ‘This is an appalling lack of judgement from Rachel Reeves.
‘She has become very close to a local ‘community leader’ in Leeds in order to save her own political skin. But this man is a fanatic who has repeatedly shown that he holds shocking views.
‘Reeves says she is this man’s friend, while he’s said he only votes for her if she does what he demands.
‘This comes at a time of renewed concern about sectarian politics seeping into our national life.
‘We don’t want foreign issues and sectarian politics to dictate what happens in our parliament. Reeves must answer for this and explain why she has become so close to this man.’
In the video, Mr Jenrick said Ms Reeves should be ‘focused on getting the unemployment she’s caused and taxes she’s raised, down’.
