A joint statement is due to be made at the full council meeting in the Guildhall this evening expressing sympathy for those affected by the conflict in Palestine and Israel, and calling for an immediate ceasefire.
The Chair, Councillor Sarah Moore, on behalf of all the Group Leaders, is expected to say:
“We would like to express deep sympathy for all those affected by the conflict in Palestine and Israel. To those in the Bath and North East Somerset area who have been affected by this conflict, we offer our support during this difficult time.
“We hope for an immediate ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to this conflict. We hope for the immediate release of all hostages and for aid to be delivered.
“We believe that Muslims, Jews and people of all faiths and none should feel safe and supported throughout the world and we therefore condemn the increase in antisemitic and Islamophobic violence and abuse in the UK.
In particular, we condemn the use of all dehumanising language and call on our communities to treat each other with respect and refrain from inflammatory terms to describe either the Palestinian or Israeli populations.”
The following party leaders have all added their names to that statement.
Cllr Sarah Moore, Chair of Bath and North East Somerset Council
Cllr Kevin Guy, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group
Cllr Robin Moss, Leader of the Labour Group
Cllr Shaun Hughes, Leader of the Independent Group
Cllr Joanna Wright, Leader of the Green Group
Cllr Tim Warren, Leader of the Conservative Group
However, it has to be said this is something the Green Party representatives have been calling for for some time.
In a separate press release the party states:
“Green Group Leader, Councillor Joanna Wright, has joined other B&NES Leaders in signing a statement on behalf of the Council expressing sympathies for those affected by the Palestine-Israel conflict across the Bath and North East Somerset area.
The Green Group however have sought a “Peace Motion” twice, in November 2023 and again at today’s full Council meeting (March 2024), which were ruled “out of order” and “not relevant” by the Chair of B&NES Council.
Today’s statement calls for an immediate ceasefire and peaceful resolution. It urges the release of hostages, aid delivery, and condemns antisemitic and Islamophobic violence. However, as it is only a statement it cannot be sent from all councillors. Only a motion, which would have been debated and voted for at full Council, could have been acted on.
The Green group notes that several UK authorities, including Burnley, Sheffield, Liverpool, have passed ceasefire motions. B&NES neighbours, Somerset Council and North Somerset Council, have also. While the Green group recognises the council’s limitations, it urges B&NES to do as much as it can.
Councillor Joanna Wright highlights,
“Residents are urging us to communicate with the Prime Minister and Secretary of State, emphasising the urgent need for a ceasefire in the Middle East. This request stems not only from the economic impact of the conflict on our community but, more importantly, from our shared humanity. As humans we are seeing great suffering, the suffering mostly of women and children on both sides of the conflict that is causing death, destruction, and starvation.
“The Green Group motion was clearer in its actions which included writing to government. This statement has no teeth because it does not call for the Council to write to the government and demand action be taken.”
The Green Group acknowledges the inconsistency in the Council dealings with international issues, for instance on the 25th March 2022, the Council passed the following motion regarding Ukrainian Refugee, that agreed:
“A further letter be sent to both the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary repeating this Council’s willingness to welcome Ukrainian people fleeing war and persecution in their own country and urging the UK government to act to ensure that the UK does all it can to help alleviate this humanitarian crisis.”
The Green group questions why B&NES Council hasn’t taken tangible steps towards a Peace Motion.
Councillor Joanna Wright stated that:
“We live in serious times, and this requires that we step up our Leadership at a local level. I urge you Chair and Deputy Chair to reconsider your position on the Peace Motion sent to you by the Green Group and ensure that it is tabled at the next Full Council, showing clearly that the statement that you and all political group leaders have made tonight is more than gesture politics.”
We shall just have to see what happens.
Will the Council make similar joint statements of sympathy for the ‘genocides’ in:
Myanmar – 43k dead
Sudan – 500k dead
Congo – 70k dead
Rwanda – 800k dead
Ukraine – 11k civilians dead 20k wounded, < 70k soldiers dead 120k wounded
Xinjiang – no figures released
I would feel ashamed if our Council refused to recognise these other, less popular, victims of genocide in a similar fashion.
How preposterous that this self-important council seeks to meddle in international politics. At the beginning of the conflict they were asked to fly the Israeli flag, as Downing Street and various councils throughout the country did, in recognition of the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. They did not do so. Now they prioritise a cease fire in a war against terrorism over the release of the hostages, which is what started this conflict in the first place. There are plenty of conflicts throughout the world – do we need to hear BANES comment upon Haiti, Yemen, Ukraine, Korea, Taiwan, Somalia, Syria?. No, apparently not, just on Gaza. Perhaps they would stick to delivering the services that they are actually paid to deal with such as keeping Bath’s famous museums open, buses running and our streets clean. Oh! and what happened to their ‘climate emergency’? They do, indeed, need to ‘step up their leadership on a local level’ – not an international one!
I am inclined to agree with both Roy and Penny. It is heartbreaking to see two countries so devastated by war, and many more the same. A statement like this from a local council doesn’t help. Have they thought about organising some aid for both sides, and supporting local families who may be affected?