Slough’s council leader is expected to write to the foreign secretary to raise concerns over the conflict in Israel and Gaza following a council motion.
Councillors resoundingly voted to support a motion for Cllr Dexter Smith to write to Lord David Cameron with calls for an immediate ceasefire and steps towards a “lasting peace” and a two-state solution.
Speaking before the full council, Cllr Smith said: “Slough as a multicultural society stands for peace.”
He added: “This motion, I believe, will help to bring our communities together – that we know we are making representations to the government about how we feel the case for a ceasefire still exists.
“And it also demonstrates that we are standing shoulder to shoulder with our residents in Slough who are horrified at the humanitarian catastrophe which is unfolding still.”
Labour Cllr put forward an amendment that included reference to the number of Palestinians who had been killed and further specifics in the council leader’s letter to Lord Cameron.
Labour group leader Cllr Pavitar Mann told the full council: “Our issue with the original motion is that it did not go far enough. There is nothing in it about recognising Palestinian statehood – something that 72 per cent of all UN member states have done. And it is shameful that our government is not able to do so.
“We all know that it is an important step – that initial step of recognising Palestinian statehood is an important step to the two-state solution that we hopefully all want to see in this room.”
However, while the original motion was overwhelmingly carried, the Labour amendment was ultimately voted down.
Cllr Smith said: “I would say to members – my experience in politics has taught me that the more you elaborate on something, and move away from the core central things that we agree on – which is the need for a ceasefire, the need for bringing unity in our own town and our absolute condemnation of the levels of violence that are exhibited in this conflict – the more you are unlikely to gain agreement in the future.”
He added: “We are best served by a policy of seeking an immediate ceasefire. The more we talk about it, the more we complicate it, the more we are likely to be divided and argue over the detail.”
