A council candidate at the centre of claims he has supported antisemitism has been suspended by the Labour Party.

Mike Sivier is standing in today’s Powys County Council elections in the the Llanbadarn Fawr ward, near Llandrindod Wells.

But the Campaign Against Antisemitism had called for him to be deselected as a candidate.

The organisation used its website to accuse Mr Sivier, who is a former Brecon & Radnor Express journalist, of supporting or defending left wing figures accused of antisemitism.

Last night, on the eve of the poll, Labour said it had suspended Mr Sivier.

A Welsh Labour spokeswoman said: "Mike Sivier has been removed as a Labour Party candidate at the forthcoming local elections and an investigation into his conduct is underway in line with Labour Party rules and procedures."

Mr Sivier’s name will still appear on today’s ballot papers as a Labour candidate.

He remains a candidate in the election but is no longer endorsed by the Labour Party.

Mr Sivier had previously used his Vox Political blog to defended himself against the accusations made and comments, taken from his blog, which he said had been taken out of context.

Also standing in the Llanbadarn Fawr constituency is independent John Powell, who currently holds the seat and also sits on the council cabinet, and another independent candidate Martin Jonathan Weale.