Labour's General Election candidate for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner has apologised for a social media post referring to Israel which used the word 'gassed'.

In 2012, Peymana Assad tweeted: “Some man I just met thought I was Israeli so I cracked the 10 lost tribes of Israel joke to him and he got gassed.”

Ms Assad apologised for her use of the word ‘gassed’, claiming it was a common slang for being ‘happy and excited’.

“It didn’t occur to me at all that it would have other connotations and I’m completely mortified that I didn’t realise this. I unreservedly apologise,” she wrote.

“I’ve been outspoken against any pro-Palestinian campaigners blaming Jewish people for Israel’s actions and about anti-Semitism in our party and calling out those who seek to deny and downplay it.

“I am absolutely committed to standing in solidarity with Jewish people and to fighting anti-Semitism.”

Former Conservative minister Nick Hurd won the seat in 2017 with a 26.2% majority, with 30,555 votes giving him a 57.2% share.

He is stepping down and David Simmonds, the deputy leader of Hillingdon council, is the Tory candidate, looking to retain a seat held by the Conservatives since 2010 boundary changes.

The news is certainly untimely for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn with chief rabbi Ephraim Mirvis making an unprecedented contribution to the election debate tonight.

Writing in The Times, he said: "It is not my place to tell any person how they should vote.

"I regret being in this situation at all. I simply pose the following question: What will the result of this election say about the moral compass of our country?

"When December 12th arrives, I ask every person to vote with their conscience."

Mr Corbyn has repeatedly insisted Labour is tackling anti-Semitism by expelling members.

And a party spokesman said: "Jeremy Corbyn is a lifelong campaigner against anti-Semitism and has made absolutely clear it has no place in our party and society and that no one who engages in it does so in his name.

"A Labour government will guarantee the security of the Jewish community, defend and support the Jewish way of life, and combat rising anti-Semitism in our country and across Europe.

"Our race and faith manifesto, launched Tuesday, sets out our policies to achieve this."