Both groups on Westminster City Council are backing the joint motion declaring that Zionism is not racism, which Full Council will debate on Wednesday 11 November, Fitzrovia News reports. Cllr Paul Swaddle, Leader of Westminster City Council, said Conservative councillors are united behind it, and the Labour group has voted to support it.
The motion will be moved by Cllr Hannah Galley, Cabinet Member for Children and Education, and seconded by Labour’s Cllr David Boothroyd. It answers the “Zionism is racism” resolution passed at the Green Party of England and Wales conference last month by 1,022 votes to 813, which has been criticised both outside and inside the Green Party. Ellie Chowns, one of the party’s five MPs, told the BBC it was a “significant and damaging policy”.
The motion recognises that criticism of the Israeli Government’s policies and actions is legitimate and not antisemitic, but says that declaring Zionism to be racism goes far beyond such criticism. If it is agreed, the council will affirm that Zionism is not racism and reaffirm its support for Jewish residents. Cllr Swaddle and the Leader of the Opposition, Cllr Ellie Ormsby, will write to local synagogues and the London Jewish Forum to offer reassurance, and the council will review its equality, diversity and community cohesion training and policies within six months against the IHRA working definition of antisemitism.
Cllr Swaddle said: “After the hate marches and attacks the Jewish community has faced in our city, they should not have to hear a political party declare that Zionism should be treated like any other form of racism. It brands most British Jews as racists. That demands a clear answer from every part of this council.
“This is a joint motion, drawn up and submitted by the Conservative and Labour groups together. Conservative councillors are united behind it, and I look forward to every member of the council being in the chamber next week and voting for it. Westminster’s Jewish community should hear one voice from their council.”
Cllr Ormsby confirmed that the Labour group has voted to support the joint motion. She recalled that in 2018 Labour seconded the Conservative motion adopting the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, “demonstrating our shared commitment to standing in solidarity with our Jewish community and combating antisemitism”.
The London Jewish Forum has welcomed the motion and urged councils across London to follow Westminster’s example. Read the London Jewish Forum’s response and what Cllr Swaddle told MyLondon.
