Peterborough by-election: Labour's Lisa Forbes GRILLED over anti-Semitism claims after win

Defending herself, she said: “I actually liked a video of children praying about the atrocities that had happened in New Zealand and I hadn’t paid much attention to the text above it and I apologise for that and I’m really sorry. I just hope that people will understand that I don’t have a bad bone in my body towards any race of people and anti-Semitism is just something I condemn completely. It’s not an excuse, it is genuine, a genuine attempt to reach out and apologise, I’ve liked a video, I wasn’t looking at the text.”

Ms Forbes had liked a Facebook video last week, which said Theresa May has a “Zionist slave masters agenda”.

The Jewish Labour Movement had called on the party to disavow her candidacy for the by-election.

In the interview with Sky News following her victory, Ms Forbes said: “I campaigned on a message of hope for a better deal for our city, better resources for our schools, cleaning up the city and getting police back on our streets.

“The people of Peterborough have chosen to elect someone that fought the election on local issues” as opposed to Brexit.

READ MORE: Peterborough by-election: Brexit Party candidate attacks May

60 percent of the city voted to Leave in 2016 and on her views, Ms Forbes added: “Labour MPs voted to trigger Article 50, I think that was the right thing to do, we had a democratic vote.

“But it’s the way we leave, I don’t think that a Tory Brexit that doesn’t protect jobs, living standards, environmental protections or consumer protections is the way to go.”

“So, we reached out I think in good faith to the Conservative government but were unable to come to any agreement on a deal, I think that we should try to continue with that.”

She then called on the next Tory leader “to reach out straightaway to the other parties.”

On being asked what should of Brexit deal she would report in the Commons, Ms Forbes responded: “I’ll support a deal that doesn’t make our constituents poorer, that protects their jobs, protects their living standards, I couldn’t in good conscience vote for a deal that I knew would harm the living standards of our constituents.”

After, she was quizzed on whether she supported a second referendum and if she would campaign for Remain if it did occur, she said it would depend on if there was “an impasse” in Parliament before adding: “I can’t say, I really don’t know at that moment, I’d like to see a deal that respects the results of the referendum.”

The by-election was held after Labour MP Fiona Onasanya was removed following a recall petition, triggered after she was imprisoned for perverting the course of justice.

It was the first election for a Commons contested by The Brexit Party, who were the most popular party in the European elections.

The seat swings between Conservatives and Labour, but both parties had taken hits in recent polls as a result of Brexit.