[Forgive the quality of the image above. It was taken from a recording of last night’s council meeting, which is available to watch on YouTube.]
Cllr Dr Bharat Pankhania has said he will not be seeking re-election for a third term as a Combe Down ward councillor.
His announcement came in a personal statement he gave at the end of a full meeting of B&NES council at the city’s Guildhall last night.
Cllr Pankhania resigned as Mayor of Bath last year following his suspension by his party after reposting antisemitic conspiracy theories on social media, following the attack on ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity in London.
He apologised ‘profusely’ for his actions and deleted the post. His now former political party, the Liberal Democrats, said they rejected antisemitism in all its forms.
At last night’s meeting, Cllr Pankhania said he would step down from his seat immediately but has been persuaded to stay on until November.
Here is Cllr Pankhania’s statement in full.
Make of it what you will.
“Chair, fellow Councillors,
I have always believed that public service is a privilege. Throughout my time as a Councillor, Deputy Mayor, and Mayor of Bath, I have sought to serve every resident with integrity, respect, and a genuine desire to make our city a better place.
My mayoral theme, Education is Empowerment, reflected my lifelong commitment as a public health physician and university educator.
I have always believed that knowledge, understanding, and opportunity are the foundations of a strong and compassionate society.
I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together and deeply grateful to the many residents, community organisations, charities, faith groups, and fellow Councillors who have worked tirelessly for the benefit of our city.
Like all of us, I am human and capable of making mistakes. And I made a mistake, a momentary error and shared a social media message before realising its implied subtext.
I am sorry I did that, and I wish I hadn’t.
My action caused concern and offence. I listened, I reflected, and I accepted responsibility for my mistake.
I regret the distraction this caused to the Council and to the Mayoralty, and I stepped back as soon as I was asked.
I have learned that social media can be a hazardous environment.
We live in highly charged and adversarial times.
Too often, people are looking to score points, to claim a scalp rather than seek understanding.
In that atmosphere, we risk losing objectivity, careful analysis, and balanced judgement.
That is not healthy for our democracy, nor is it in the best interests of the community we are here to serve.
I also believe it is crucial not to confuse criticism of the actions of governments and their conduct of wars and insults against a faith or a people.
The former is legitimate criticism and a statement of a political position. The latter is racist. Those are most definitely not the same thing.
We must always reject prejudice and racial discrimination in all their forms, while also recognising that democratic societies depend upon the ability to discuss and debate difficult issues respectfully and thoughtfully.
Before I conclude, I want to express my sincere thanks to the many people who have shown me much kindness over recent weeks.
Thank you to the many people who have stopped me in the street to shake my hand, to those who have written letters and sent cards, and to everyone who has offered words of encouragement and support.
These simple acts of kindness matter greatly.
They remind us that compassion and fellowship are values we should all strive to show more often, especially when others are facing difficult times.
I also want to thank the wonderful people of Combe Down for placing their trust in me and electing me twice to represent them.
It has been an honour and a privilege to serve our community, and I shall always be grateful for the confidence they placed in me.
After careful reflection, I have decided that I will not be seeking a third term as a Councillor.
I also believe that the time has come for me to resign my seat on the Council.
This has not been an easy decision, but I need to give greater priority to my own health and wellbeing.
Looking ahead, I intend to devote my time to the work to which I have dedicated much of my professional life: infectious disease prevention, control and management, particularly in lower-income countries where I hope my knowledge and experience can make a meaningful contribution to improving health and saving lives.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve this Council and the people of Bath.
I leave with gratitude, with many happy memories, and with an enduring commitment to public service in whatever way I can continue to contribute.
Thank you. Please be nice to each other.”
Bharat Pankhania
As I said above, as l understand it, Cllr Pankhania has agreed to stay on as an independent ward councillor until November.
All B&NES councillors are up for re-election next May.
It’s my understanding that he intends to look for work in infectious diseases somewhere in Africa.
