Conservatives walked out of a Council meeting during a discussion on Gaza, with one party member saying Cllrs were “deluded” to think the debate would make any difference to global politics.
Two motions on the Middle East and Israel’s actions in Gaza were discussed at a meeting of Bradford Council on Tuesday evening, one brought by the Bradford Independents and one by Labour.
But at the start of the discussion Conservative Cllrs left their benches and then the Council Chamber, leaving just Conservative Leader Cllr Rebecca Poulsen and Cllr Mike Pollard, Conservative Group Chief Whip.
There were cries of “shame on you” across the chamber as the Conservative Cllrs left.
The Bradford Independent Group’s motion called for the Council to “condemn Israel’s genocide in Gaza, illegal military assault in Iran and the UK Government’s complicity in war crimes and breaches of international law”.
The Labour motion called for “Middle East focus to remain on Gaza.”
The conflict in Gaza has been discussed at several previous Council meetings, and Conservatives had argued that if it came to full Council again, members would refuse to take part in the debate.
Speaking for the Independents, Cllr Rizwan Saleem pointed out Israel’s action in Gaza, which began after the 7 October attack on Israel by Hamas, was approaching its second anniversary.
He said: “We can’t in good conscience turn a blind eye to this.”
He said Palestinians were suffering from deliberate starvation, and called it a “humanitarian catastrophe of huge proportions.”
He added: “We have Bradford families who have relatives in Palestine who have lost their lives.”
Cllr Saleem said the UK Government was “complicit” in Israel’s actions, which he said could clearly be described as genocide, adding: “History will not look at our nation’s actions in this time kindly.”
He added: “Criticism of Israel is not anti-Semitism.”
Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe referred to the current ceasefire talks, adding: “This has to happen, too many lives have already been lost.
“Too often I sit at memorials and commit personally to do all I can to make sure such atrocities never happen again.
“But they do. We as a world will be judged by history for not doing enough on this matter.
“The Conservatives think this is nothing to do with us. A large number of our residents in Bradford disagree.
“I speak to people, Muslim and non-Muslim, who are concerned the world is not paying enough attention to this because the victims are Muslim people in a foreign land.
“Islamophobia across the world means many don’t take what is happening to Muslims as seriously as they would if it happened to non-Muslims.”
Liberal Democrat Leader Brendan Stubbs said: “The evidence is now overwhelming. Tens of thousands killed, deliberate starvation, the bombing of hospitals, schools, and aid convoys—this is not self-defence. This is collective punishment on an industrial scale.
“We stand against anti-Semitism. And we also stand against the policies of a government that is defying international law and continuing illegal settlement expansion, apartheid practices, and now illegal cross-border attacks like those on Iran, risking a regional war.
“The motions before us rightly condemn the UK Government’s failure to act decisively. While ministers talk about humanitarian concern, they continue to arm a state credibly accused of genocide.
“That is morally indefensible and legally questionable.”
Cllr Poulsen told the meeting: “We all want a ceasefire, but if you think bringing motion after motion to a Council meeting is the way to do it, you’re deluded.”
The Labour motion, and a Labour amendment to the Independent motion, were approved.
After the meeting Cllr Poulson reiterated what she said in the Chamber, saying: “Yet again we have the Labour Group and Bradford Independents Group trying to outdo each other over who can be more pro-Palestine. Have any of the hours of debate affected the situation in the Middle East? No.
“We have to work to fix local issues for our residents, the ones who actually elect us to this chamber.
“There are so many things we need to support and represent our local residents over. But these two political groups spend more time trying to get the upper hand over Middle Eastern politics than any other issue.”
