THE Liberal Democrat candidate for York Outer has apologised for any offence caused by comments she made during hustings held at the University of York.

Madeleine Kirk is reported by the Jewish Chronicle to have said “the power of the Jewish lobbies in Washington and Britain” were the reason a full arms embargo had not been imposed on Israel.

She also backed disgraced Lib Dem peer Jenny Tonge’s call for an inquiry to disprove allegations Israeli army medical teams in Haiti “harvested” organs of earthquake victims – comments which led to Baroness Tonge being stripped of her role as health spokeswoman in the Lords.

Ms Kirk said today she did not believe her comments had been reported fully accurately, but accepted she might have accidentally caused offence and if so apologised unreservedly. She said she recognised allegations against Israeli humanitarian operations in Haiti were completely unfounded and utterly reprehensible.