Tory who was lined up to stand for election in Oakwood claims he cannot recall wearing Nazi uniform, reports James Cracknell

*A photo reportedly showing Colin Davis wearing Nazi uniform in the 1980s, which he says he does not recall doing (image first published by Jewish News)*

A senior Conservative Party member in Enfield originally lined up to stand in Oakwood for May’s local election has been suspended after a photo emerged appearing to show him wearing Nazi uniform.

Colin Davis was chair of Enfield Southgate Conservative Association and had been earmarked as the candidate for Oakwood ward a few weeks before the offending photo was published by Jewish News yesterday (Tuesday). The party has now suspended him, pending an investigation.

Speaking to Jewish News, Colin did not deny that he was the person in the photo wearing the uniform, but said he “could not recall” dressing up as a Nazi and denied having any association with far-right politics.

The photo was reportedly taken in the 1980s but had resurfaced after being discovered in a property Colin had previously lived in.

The Dispatch understands that Colin had been lined up as one of the Conservative Party’s two candidates for Oakwood, which is a new ward for this year’s election but is one which the Tories expect to win.

However, at some point prior to the deadline for people to either submit or withdraw their candidacy forms last Tuesday (5th April), Julian Sampson took Colin’s place on the Oakwood ward list, as one of two Jewish candidates now standing for the Tories in Enfield on 5th May.

Tom O’Halloran is the other Conservative candidate for Oakwood, who along with Colin had been lined up to stand in the ward at the start of this year.

In a statement Joanne Laban, the Conservative group leader at Enfield Council, said: “Mr Davis has been suspended from the party by Enfield Southgate Conservative Association pending investigation.

“The Conservative Party takes allegations of this nature extremely seriously and the swift action taken reflects this. We are proud to have members of the Jewish community standing in the local elections. I look forward to both Julian Sampson and [Cockfosters candidate] Ruby Sampson joining the Conservative team on Enfield Council.”

Jewish News further quotes Colin as saying to them: “I have no recollection of this at all. Yes, there were various wild parties, very perverse themes expressed… I can’t absolutely rule it out.

“I recall attending a fair number of parties where bizarre garb of all kinds was called upon.

“There used to be an awful lot of wild parties in the 1980s. I certainly can’t recall all of them.”

An election hustings event was coincidentally hosted this week at Cockfosters and North Southgate Synagogue, in a neighbouring ward to Oakwood, by a group of Jewish community organisations.

Cllr Laban did not mention the suspension of Colin Davis at the hustings event on Monday, which was held the day before the Nazi uniform photo was first published by Jewish News.

Colin works for a London law firm, where he specialises in military law and is said to be “well connected with the British armed forces”. He could not be reached for comment.

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