7 March 2024
In November 2023, the Green Group proposed a motion to B&NES council to support those affected by the Israel-Palestine conflict. Despite Green Group Leader, Councillor Wright’s efforts, political groups in the council did not support the proposed cross-party motion. Due to concerns raised by local residents about the conflict’s continuing impact, the Green Group planned to resubmit the motion as a standalone Green Group Motion to March 2024’s council, focusing on unity, aiding displaced individuals, and promoting peace. However, the council’s Monitoring Officer and chair rejected the motion, branding it ‘out of order’. The Green Group are therefore unable to submit a Peace Motion to be debated by B&NES.
The Green Group submitted their ‘Motion on Peace’ to the B&NES council in November 2023 (1), aiming to garner support for those affected by the conflict in Israel and Palestine while emphasising the importance of Article 9 of the 1998 Human Rights Act (This article asserts individuals’ absolute right to hold a religion or belief free from discrimination).
The motion, led by Councillor Wright, outlined various actions for collective council engagement. For instance, she proposed consulting the Equalities Action Commission to better assist residents affected by ongoing events and fostering unity among people of all faiths in response to recent developments. The motion also stresses the importance of facilitating the welcoming of displaced persons and condemns the use of dehumanising language. Additionally, Councillor Wright suggested flying the UN flag as a symbol of peace, akin to the Guildhall’s display of the Ukrainian flag (2).
Despite the motion’s significance, it did not receive support from political groups within the council, remaining ‘untabled,’ and unable to be even heard or debated by the council. At B&NES council meetings public speakers have expressed their concerns about the evolving international conflict. Local resident Nicola James condemned the violence in the Israel-Gaza conflict and urged councillors to support a permanent ceasefire in November 2023 (3). Similarly, four separate public speakers are expected to express their condemnation of the situation in Gaza and request support from B&NES councillors for a ceasefire at the next council meeting on the 14th of March (4).
The impact of the conflict is evident across B&NES, with incidents such as damage and graffiti related to the conflict found at the Bath Labour offices and the hospitalization of Wael Arafat following a hunger strike calling for a ceasefire in Gaza (5). An ‘Open Letter to B&NES Councillors’ produced in November 2023 highlights the community’s desire for council support of a ceasefire (6). Events like The Interfaith gathering at the Guildhall underscore the importance of unity by all faiths at this time of deep division. The conflict has generated attacks on ships in the Red Sea, which are causing delays in delivering goods. This impacts supply chains and makes it more expensive to move goods. This conflict affects B&NES through increased costs for businesses and residents.
In response to such developments since November 2023, the Green Group decided to submit a Green Group motion titled ‘Motion on Peace’ to the March 2024 council meeting. The updated motion emphasises a commitment to combat racism and discrimination within communities, condemns the use of dehumanising language, and urges respectful discourse, particularly concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (see updated Motion on Peace).
The Group urges the council to enhance support for events that promote solidarity among communities of all faiths, including those with no faith, and pledges assistance to residents affected by violent events. The proposed ‘Motion on Peace’ supports the UK Resettlement Scheme to provide safety for vulnerable individuals from Gaza and calls for the council to be prepared to offer support to innocent people displaced by the conflict.
Aligning with broader Green sentiments, the Green Group’s motion requests local and national leaders to support a national review of UK arms sales (8) and endorse targeted sanctions against key individuals involved in the conflict, while also encouraging UK authorities to pursue perpetrators of war crimes (9). Additionally, the motion requests B&NES leaders to reiterate the desire to release all hostages.
The motion called for the council leader to advocate for a ceasefire to the central government and urge Westminster’s support for a ceasefire and lasting peace through diplomatic channels. This call is echoed by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNICEF, Save the Children, the head of the WHO, Oxfam, and 70% of the British public who support a ceasefire (10).
However, upon submitting this motion to Democratic Services, the council’s Monitoring Officer rejected the motion on the basis it was ‘not relevant’ to B&NES residents. When appealed by Cllr Joanna Wright, the council’s Chair further rejected adding the motion to March’s Council agenda, calling the Green motion ‘out of order’.
Green Leader, Councillor Joanna Wright, adds: “Several councils in the UK, like Burnley, Sheffield, Liverpool, Bradford, Oxford, Midlothian, Preston, Aberdeen, and Kirklees, haven’t just talked about the conflict in Gaza—they’ve acted by passing motions. B&NES council see it as ‘out of order’ and ‘not relevant’.
“We need an explanation from democratic services and the chair about why something that affects many residents isn’t considered relevant. The council should clarify the connection between how something affects residents and its relevance to the council, which is supposed to represent residents. The Green Group calls for transparency and accountability regarding the council’s decision-making process and urges action to address the conflict’s humanitarian consequences.”
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