The Labour Group motion to 'consider a formal twinning agreement between Brent and the city of Nablus, which sits under the governance of the Palestinian National Authority, and receive a report considering the proposal at a future council meeting' was passed by a large majority at last night's meeting.
An amendment by the Conservative Group (see video) was defeated and a Liberal Democrat move to get both withdrawn, because the issue was 'divisive' failed. Legal officers ruled that both the substantive motion and the amendment were in order.
I have asked the Liberal Democrat to confirm how they voted as the Mayor does not summarise the vote and the council video does not pan across the chamber to show the voting. Cllr Neil Nerva removed himself from the council chamber before the vote was taken and returned afterwards.
A large group of Palestine supporters cheered as the motion was passed.
STOP PRESS: Brent Liberal Democrat Group confirm that they voted against both the Conservative Amendment and the Labour motion.
19 comments:
That’s wonderful! There is widespread support in the Brent community for Gaza/Palestine who are suffering a genocide so it’s not divisive as claimed by Liberal Democrats. Furthermore, I thought the Lib Dems are pro-Palestine so that’s surprising.
Councillor Maurice, Tory leader, needs to brush up his knowledge of Brent’s diverse communities. Muslims are the largest Brent faith community after Christianity coming a close second at 21.4%
Twinning with Nablus will show our compassion for the people of Gaza/Palestine.
"North London borough warns its finances are 'at breaking point' as residents face council tax hike. Waste collection costs set to rise in local authority’s drive to find further £16million of cuts"
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/brent-council-finances-council-tax-rise-muhammed-butt-b1194676.html
Edited comment to conform with guidelines: Cllr Neil Nerva wouldn’t even face them to vote against them? What sort of iron rod is butt ruling with?
Brent Council would do better to twin with q Council who are considered effective, as we are the poor relations that could use the support and cultural exchange.
Cross borough boundary twinning next?
There was an unusually large numbers of Labour Councillors missing on Monday, because they too probably did not support the Labour Motion. It is a bit unfair to pick on Councillor Nerva alone.
What are the benefits of twinning Nablus? Also this seems like gesture politics to me
There is some research here that discusses the issue in depth: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/s41293-021-00163-x
Of course it is gesture politics, nothing to do with tackling Brent Council's problems and total waste of time at Brent taxpayers expense. I bet if the cost of officer time and every other cost involved was charged to Labour Councillors they would run a mile.
Nerva was in attendance and explicitly left the room during the vote yet he is elected to represent the views of his constituents. He decided not to represent the views of his constituents towards his political party. He effectively quit
Thought all Councillors were supposed to attend full council meetings???
How much will this cost?
Need to ask Councillor Afzal or the Labour Party about the cost as they should have work it out before presenting their Motion. No mention of cost in Council papers. Brent already twins with Dublin but that has been dormant for years. A great idea a long time ago but now long forgotten as all these pointless gestures.
As I understood it the costs etc will be the focus of the report that comes back to the Council.
When will Brent Council consult all Brent residents re this?
Why aren't Brent Labour paying for this?
Middle East wars generated many refugees Iraq war onwards... there is likely more of a human connection than realised and Brent is just acknowledging that connection.
Twinning? One’s an absolute dump – plagued by poor infrastructure, constant delays on basic services, and a general sense that things are held together with duct tape and hope... and the other’s Nablus.
Firstly, you never publish my comments. Secondly, why not twin with a town in Israel that has a mixed population with Jews, Arabs, Moslems, Druze, Christians? Martin, why aren't you and your PSC fans protesting and asking to divest from the millions killed in the Syrian Civil War or Yemen? I will tell you why, it is the Jew hate that seduces you above all else. Publish that please in your comments.
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