A civil servant who is standing for the Green Party in next week's local elections is under investigation over his social media activity.
Atikur Rahman, contesting the Birmingham ward of Tyseley and Hay Mills, has been employed at the Home Office for nearly three years. During that period, Mr Rahman has engaged with numerous posts that appear to reveal his political leanings and criticise both the Conservative and Labour governments under which he has served.
One incident shows him reacting to a post commemorating dead Israelis, where Deloitte's Middle East team expressed their 'hearts and minds are deeply empathetic towards the families and friends who have suffered the loss of their loved ones in a harsh and unfathomable reality'. Mr Rahman selected the 'finds this funny' reaction from LinkedIn's set of responses.
He later liked a post condemning the memorial, branding it 'political' and stating: 'I do not share these sentiments... I ALWAYS AM AND ALWAYS WILL BE IN SUPPORT OF THE LIBERATION OF ALL PALESTINIANS'.
A year ago, he also liked a video alleging that Israel was 'attacking the UK' by funding the summer riots and Tommy Robinson. Additionally, he liked a post from a lawyer representing singer Bob Vylan, who had sparked outrage by chanting 'death to the IDF' at Glastonbury Festival. The post claimed that 'all [Vylan] did was raise alert to the genocide in Gaza given that so many were deaf to the crimes of the IDF'.
Mr Rahman's social media activity has reignited allegations of politicised civil servants working to undermine the aims of the elected government. Five months ago, he liked a comment replying to Sir Keir Starmer that read: 'You have disgraced our proud country with your dealings'.
During his tenure at the Home Office, Mr Rahman was responsible for overseeing the Conservative Government's deportation treaty with Rwanda, a policy the Greens had branded 'punitive, inhumane... [and] a very expensive way to be cruel'. Two years ago, he championed his new role, suggesting he would 'embrace the exciting time ahead'. However, his social media activity reveals a more critical view of his department's leadership. He liked a post branding then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman 'evil', and another criticising the Conservative government's plan to increase the minimum salary threshold for spousal visas as putting 'a price on love'. He also liked a post accusing the government of having 'stoked immigration divides and fear'.
The revelations provoked fury from Ms Braverman, who defected to Reform earlier this year. She told the Mail: 'This outrageous case exposes exactly what I was up against in the Home Office and the sheer scale of the battle a Reform UK government will face. When a senior civil servant charged with delivering the Rwanda deportation policy is so openly brazen in spouting vile conspiracy theories and sabotaging efforts to protect our borders it reveals a deeply troubling truth. Reform UK will root this out. A reformed Civil Service will once again serve the national interest not work against it.'
The Mail understands that Mr Rahman's social media activity is being investigated by the Home Office. A spokesman insisted: 'All civil servants must adhere to the Civil Service Code and are expected to carry out their role with integrity, honesty, objectivity and political impartiality. Whenever the Civil Service Code is breached, the matter will be taken very seriously, fully investigated, and actioned appropriately.'
A Green Party spokesman said: 'Where there are examples brought to our attention that do not fit in with the views of the Green Party, we are looking into them.'
Mr Rahman said: 'I am horrified to learn that I might have selected the wrong reaction to a post. Any interactions I have on social media are not intended as endorsements or agreement. During my time in the Civil Service, I adhered to the Civil Service Code and carried out my duties impartially, with professionalism and integrity. I will engage appropriately with any process in the background.'
