SKY News has apologised after Sophy Ridge falsely suggested an MP had been suspended from Labour for alleged antisemitism.
The presenter seemingly confused independent MP Iqbal Mohamed with a former Labour councillor named Mohammed Iqbal, with whom he has no connection.
It occurred during an interview with ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on Tuesday. Ridge asked Corbyn about his fellow members of the Independent Alliance, a grouping of five independent and pro-Palestine MPs elected last July.
"Mohammed Iqbal was suspended from Labour after allegedly making antisemitic comments at a meeting," Ridge said.
"If you feel it is wrong that you have been expelled from Labour for these reasons, you're not really helping the case for the defence here, are you?"
Mohammed Iqbal, an ex-Labour councillor in Lancashire, was suspended in 2022 for allegedly making antisemitic comments during a council debate.
Sky News and Sophy Ridge have since issued an on-air apology.
Mohamed, meanwhile, told Middle East Eye: "The ease with which the mainstream media throw around baseless allegations of antisemitism against those critical of Israel’s genocidal actions against the Palestinians is deeply concerning and shameful."
He added: "It is a cheap and damaging smear.
"Sky informed my team it had issued an on-air clarification and apology but this should never have happened in the first place.
"If their journalist had been bothered, a five-minute internet search would have clarified the matter."
