Jewish candidate told that Muslims would not accept her

Elaina Cohen, formerly of Manchester, claims that former Birmingham Lord Mayor, Labor councillor Mahmood Hussain, told her he would not support her application to stand for the inner city ward of East Handsworth and Lozells - a safe Labor seat - as his Muslim members would object to her because she was white and Jewish. Councillor Hussain has denied the allegations. Two days after the alleged conversation Mrs Cohen, 50, was rejected by a pre-selection panel in favor of a black South African.