We have written to Council Leader Cllr Roger Harmer after it emerged that his Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, Cllr Kamel Hawwash, is named as a supporter of the Green Party’s ‘Zionism is Racism’ motion.
Fellow Birmingham Green councillor Duncan Ali is also named as a supporter.
The policy expressly calls on local councils and Green councillors to take action in support of its objectives - raising serious questions about whether the Green Party’s new anti-Zionist policy will now be pursued through Birmingham City Council, and what that could mean in practice.
Cllr Jex Parkin, Leader of Reform UK Birmingham, said:
“Cllr Harmer needs to explain what this means for Birmingham. Will this Green Party policy now be pursued through Birmingham City Council, and can he give an unequivocal assurance that the Council itself will not be used to implement or advance a policy declaring Zionism to be racism?
“Earlier this week we asked whether the Liberal Democrats are still prepared to govern in coalition with the Greens following this decision. That question is even more important when their coalition agreement provides for the Green Party to take over the leadership of Birmingham City Council in 2028.
“We raised concerns about Cllr Hawwash when this administration was formed. He is now named as a supporter of the original motion, now adopted as Green Party policy, while serving as a Cabinet Member and Deputy Leader of the Birmingham Green Group.
“At an especially sensitive time for Jewish communities, Birmingham’s Jewish community deserves clarity and reassurance from the leadership of its Council.”
Our letter to Cllr Harmer is below.
