Westminster Council backs 'Zionism is not racism' motion

Westminster City Council members unanimously supported a motion declaring 'Zionism is not racism' on Wednesday, November 11. The vote served as a direct rebuke to the national Green Party, which had recently passed its own resolution stating Zionism is racism.

The cross-party proposal, brought before the Westminster Full Council meeting, aimed to challenge what local councillors described as divisive language. However, the motion's introduction was met with both protests and counter-demonstrations outside Marylebone Town Hall, indicating it had stoked division.

Council's Stated Intentions

Councillor Hannah Galley, Cabinet Member for Children and Education and the motion's proposer, stated that councillors have a duty to defend community cohesion and challenge prejudice. She emphasised the need for all residents in Westminster to feel safe expressing their identity.

Labour's Councillor David Boothroyd, who seconded the motion, expressed sadness at having to address attacks on Jewish people in Westminster concerning an issue of land located thousands of miles away. He noted that the Green Party's motion was adopted with 1,022 votes in favour and 813 against at their annual conference.

The Westminster resolution defined Zionism as 'the belief that the Jewish people have the right to national self-determination in their historic homeland'. It further stated the council believes support for this right is not racist and that the Green Party's position is incompatible with the council's duty to foster good relations between communities.

Protests and Legal Concerns

A significant pro-Palestine group gathered to protest on the steps of Marylebone Town Hall, accompanied by a counter-demonstration group. Faaiz Hasan, a member of the local Green Party, commented on the Remembrance Day context and the need to consider those killed in Gaza. He stated the intention of the Green Party's resolution was clear: opposition to Zionism, distinct from Judaism.

Councillor Galley described a sustained campaign of hostility towards Jewish identity in public spaces, citing instances of posters being torn down and Jewish people requiring security patrols to worship. She asserted that Zionism is not racist and Jewish identity should not be suppressed.

Councillor Boothroyd stated that under international law, all peoples have the right to self-determination, and Zionism is an application of this right. He argued that singling out one people to deny this right is discriminatory and constitutes antisemitism. He also revealed that Labour had attempted to insert an amendment for a two-state solution, but an agreement was not reached.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service was informed of a complaint filed by Gary Spedding, an independent political consultant. The complaint warned of 'serious legal deficiencies' with the motion, suggesting its adoption could breach the council's statutory duties and impact Palestinian, British-Palestinian, Arab, and associated Muslim residents. The complaint called for an Equality Impact Assessment and amendments to protect affected groups.

Next Steps

The motion outlined four actions if agreed, including the Council Leader and Leader of the Opposition writing to local synagogues and the London Jewish Forum to offer reassurance. The specific timing and implementation of these actions remain unclear.