EXCLUSIVE: Brent Jewish Network request a meeting with the leader of Brent Council to discuss their support for Nablus twinning.

 The Jewish Bloc on a National March for Palestine June 2024

 

The  Brent Jewish Network has written to the the leader of Brent Council requesting a meeting so that they can discuss their support for the twinning arrangement with the city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank.

The move comes after  Cllr Butt promised consultation with the Jewish community about the issue after presentation of a petition opposing the twinning at Full Council last Monday.

The Brent Jewish Network was initially a loose grouping formed in late 2023 as a consequence  of the development of a Jewish bloc at pro-Palestine demonstrations. Latterly it has adopted a more formal structure.

The list of signatories has grown since the letter was sent last week:

 

Cllr Muhammed Butt 

c/o Labour Group Office Brent Civic Centre Engineers Way Wembley
HA9 0FJ 

11 July 2025

Dear Cllr Butt, 

 

We would like to congratulate you and Brent councillors for successfully passing the motion to begin the process of twinning Brent with the Palestinian city of Nablus. We want to pay our appreciation for the many hours of work undertaken by yourselves and the Brent Nablus Twinning Association to reach this point. Twinning with Nablus is a deeply meaningful act of solidarity with the long-suffering Palestinian people and an exciting opportunity for our communities in Brent to develop fraternal links with the city of Nablus. 

 

We are a diverse group of Jewish people in Brent who care deeply about our home borough, our neighbour communities and the global struggle for a fairer, peaceful world. We include synagogue members, secular Jews, young people and elders - yet we speak with one voice in wholehearted support for twinning with Nablus. 

 

Following comments made at the full council meeting on Monday, in particular your intention to consult with the local Jewish community on this matter, we are formally requesting a meeting with yourself to share our views as Jewish residents and community members of Brent. We strongly believe that the majority of Jewish residents support (or at least, do not oppose) the twinning proposal. 

 

Exclusive consultation with just one part of our community is counter-productive, reductive and divisive. We firmly reject both the ludicrous claim that twinning with Nablus is “sectarianism” as well as the false presentation of this view as the sole voice of the Jewish community. 

 

Additionally, those of us who have previously visited Nablus seek the opportunity to share these experiences with the council cabinet. 

 

Please respond with your availability for an in-person meeting in the coming days and we will make the relevant arrangements. 

 

With much gratitude, 

 

 Daniel Wernberg

 

Ben Samuel

 

Rabbi Dr Frank Dabba Smith

 

Dr Jonathan Fluxman

 

Carol Foster

 

Dr Ian Saville 

 

Pamela Laurance

 

Lucy Cox

 

Tessa Van Gelderen

 

Tom Goodman

 

Juliet Sampson

 

Emma Tait

 

Ilana Machover

 

 

 

Will we have to fight yet again to keep the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre open?

 

As we experience extreme heat as a result of climate change and an escalating bio-diversity crisis it comes as a shock to learn that once again the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre might be in jeopardy.

In the penultimate week of the school term Thames21 who currently run the Centre have given notice that their involvement will stop at the end of the month.  The Centre is well-used by local primary schools (I know because my allotment is next door to the Centre and I hear excited children coming and going).

David Attenborough has repeatedly said we cannot expect children to defend nature if they haven't experienced it and the Centre plays a vital part in giving that experience in an era when Brent council has declared a Climate and Environmental Emergency.

With schools busy with end of term activities this news may not get through before the long summer holiday and it will only be when they try and book for the autumn term tht they will find the facility is no longer available.

It may be that Brent Council has safeguarding the Centre's future in hand but ominously neither the Council Press Office nor the lead Cabinet members responsible have responded to Wembley Matters' request for a statement. Thames21 have not yet responded to a request for confirmation of their withdrawal. I had hoped that it might be temporary while building work took place.

The two classrooms that form the Centre have been deteriorating for years and it was envisaged that the WHEEC would share the new build accommodation planned for a 16-19 SEND  facility in the grounds.

 Generations of Brent pupils have enjoyed visits to the Centre and many adults will have memories of bug hunting, pond dipping and much else. Let's hope if necessary we can get together and Save Our Centre.

Third German airman from the February 1944 Dornier bomber captured in Alperton

 Guest post by local historian Philip Grant

 

 

A WW2 German Dornier DO-217-M bomber aircraft. (Image from the internet)

 

In a guest post last February (“The Curious Incident of a Dornier in the Night”), I noted that the Wembley newspaper reports had only mentioned two of the four German airmen who parachuted out of the plane being captured. I wrote: ‘I don’t know where the other two landed …. If you have any information on this, please add a comment below!’ 

 

In May, Martin received an email from Sarah, and after I contacted her, and we exchanged some emails, I am pleased to report that her grandad, Leonard William Pursey, captured a third member of the Dornier bomber’s crew that night (23 February 1944) on ‘the last road on the Carlyon Road estate in Alperton’.

 

Leonard Pursey and his wife Lilian on their wedding day in the 1930s.

 

Leonard would have been in his mid-forties at the time. He had joined the army in the First World War, lying about his age, and fought for more than two years before it was found out that he was still only 17 (he enlisted again as soon as he was 18). By 1944, he was living at 68 Carlyon Road and working just across the North Circular at the Waterlow & Sons printing works in Park Royal (built in 1936 to print the “Radio Times”).

 

Waterlow’s “Radio Times” printing works in Park Royal. (Image from the internet)

 

Like around 25,000 other adult civilians in Wembley, Leonard would have to spend around twelve hours a week (usually in three 4-hour shifts at night) on fire watching duties in his local area. It may well have been while he was patrolling on the Carlyon Road estate as a Fire Guard, at around 10pm, that he saw a parachute coming down, and sprang into action (his passion was boxing!). His family don’t have much detail about his capture of the German airman, but they do know that he relieved him of an armband, which he kept as a “souvenir”. Sarah still has that armband, and has sent me a photograph of it.

 

A Luftwaffe bomber aircrew flying suit, and Leonard’s “souvenir” armband.

 

Leonard Pursey may have done his captive a favour by taking the armband, as it was not part of his Luftwaffe uniform. It was worn by members of the German National Socialist (Nazi) Party, and the airman might have got much rougher treatment, from the police or armed forces he was handed over to, if he was still wearing it!

 

According to the “Wembley News” report in my February article, the ‘docile’ young German airman captured in Douglas Avenue, Alperton, wearing a ‘blue battledress’, was treated quite sympathetically. He probably looked similar to our own RAF airmen – but if he had been displaying the hated swastika emblem on his arm, it could well have been different.

 

 

Street map of Wembley Central and Alperton, with locations showing roughly where the three German airmen who parachuted from the Dornier bomber were captured.

 

You can see from the map above that the damaged Dornier aircraft was already flying in a north north-easterly direction when the airmen bailed out. I have managed to find a bit more information about this German bombing raid from the Operation Steinbock website. The website states: ‘Amongst the losses this night was Do 217M-1, code U5+DK, Werknummer 56051. At 10,000 ft over London the aircraft was hit by predictive fire from the ground. Pilot Oberfeldwebel Hermann Stemann ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft over Wembley and they were promptly captured.’ 

 

The plane had flown from an airfield near Brussels, in Belgium, part of 185 German aircraft, mainly from Luftwaffe bases in France, which took part in the 23 February 1944 raid on London. The Isle of Dogs area was the main target, not Alperton, but what would Leonard Pursey’s reaction have been if he had known that the German Air Force command in Berlin had an aerial photograph (discovered after the war) of the building where he worked, as a target for another attack? They had cut it out from a 1936 British building magazine!

 

Aerial photograph of the Waterlow & Sons printing works at Park Royal, found in Berlin.

 

We still have one more airman from this Dornier bomber to find! If you have any information on where he was captured, please add a comment below.

 

Philip Grant.

UPDATED ALERT: Watch out this weekend, Labour wannabes will be out proving their door knocking skills and taking lots of pictures of themselves in action. Imposed selection process is 'a tragedy and a farce'

 

 

The Labour selection of candidates for the 2026 borough election by a special force of assessors from outside the borough appointed by the London Region of the Labour Party, seems to be in trouble. Applicants, after a delay last week have now been told  that interviews been not been rescheduled, despite hopes that selection would be completed by July 31st. No decisions have been made as yet and no rank and file Brent Labour Party members have been involved.

If that is not enough to get them biting their nails, applicants will be jumping through hoops for the assessors in order to demonstrate their skills. These do not include demonstrating their political thinking skills or their independence of thought.

 Instead they will be expected to demonstrate their 'doorstep skills' by taking part in canvassing, their pavement pounding skills, by delivering leaflets and brown nosing skills by getting involved in local Labour Party branch meetings  and other activities.

Currently Alperton ward has two Lib Dem councillors and one Labour, and was of course once the seat of much respected Lib Dem Anton Georgiou.  What's more natural then than Labour organising a mass litter pick in, yes, you've guessed it, Alperton.  Candidates will be able to show their prowess at community involvement (even if it is only for a couple of hours this weekend).

 

Following the exemplary self-promotion of Cllrs Muhammed Butt and Krupa Sheth applicants will be expected to 'share updates and successes' of Brent Labour and the Council on their social media as well as those of Sadiq Khan and the Labour government.  Among the suggested targets is the community website Next Door.

I hope this helps you prepare for the onslaught and perhaps escape for a day at the seaside. 

Meanwhile intense dissatisfaction with the imposed selection process has been rife, Here is an example shared to Labour Party members:

As the days and weeks pass by, we have no dates for interviews, no shortlist and no idea who our candidates will be. Contrast this with the 2022 election where the LCF produced a manifesto and shortlist, and the selection process was managed by our CLP and two lay members. They managed this in difficult circumstances as ward boundaries had been redrawn and this had delayed the process. Two lay members sacrificing their time and energy to ensure that we fielded strong candidates have outperformed the bureaucrats at the London Regional Labour Party who should be hanging their heads in shame. A tragedy and a farce and no way to treat lay members or potential councillors.

Upcoming Climate Events in Brent

 From Brent Council

July 2025 📣 Upcoming events for your diary you don't want to miss!  Church End and Roundwood Green Corridors Consultation If you live, work or study in Church End and Roundwood, we are seeking your feedback on proposed designs for Church Path and Longstone Avenue through a four-week consultation. 15 and 30 July Project Walkabouts (3pm-4:30pm) Give in-depth feedback while moving through the project area. Register your interest at: info@mpsmartertravel.co.uk Exhibition Events (4:30pm-7pm) Drop in to find out about the project and share your views at Roundwood Lodge Cafe. 29 July Accessibility Audit For those who consider themselves disabled to discuss the accessibility of the proposed designs. Register your interest at info@mpsmartertravel.co.uk Until 3rd August  Online Survey click the link below to complete the online survey.  If you require additional support to take part in the consultation, email: highwaysconsult@brent.gov.uk  or call 020 8937 5230 Complete the online survey Family Tree Walk 16 July, 3.45pm-5pm  Location: Longstone Avenue Open Space, Fry Rd, London NW10 3UB In Spring, Brent Council and Trees for Cities worked with local residents to plant 1100 trees in Longstone Avenue Open Space. This formed part of the Church End and Roundwood Green Neighbourhood and Green Corridors initiative.  Trees for Cities are now organising a Tree Walk to show residents where new trees were planted and why, how to spot their differences, and label the trees together for the benefit of others in the community. The walk will continue  road to Roundwood Park to see some more mature species. Sign up via the link below.  Sign Up North Brent Community Garden: Community Open Day North Brent Community Garden are inviting residents to come along to the growing space and explore opportunities to get involved. Please join a day of family fun, with activities suitable for all ages. This is a drop-in event.  19 July, 11.30am - 3.30pm Location: Wharton Close, NW10 2TG, opposite North Brent School, near Neasden Station. Kingsbury Repair Cafe  26 July at 11am Location: Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury, 211 Kingsbury Road London NW9 8AQ Join us for a FREE residents’ event promoting repair and reuse in the community – hosted by the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Kingsbury. • Repair clothes with TRAID workshops • Fix your small electronic appliances with the Restart Project • Bike repairs with PeddleMyWheels • Bike Market - donate your unwanted bikes or purchase refurbished bikes This is a first come first served event. We cannot guarantee that everyone’s items will be seen. Book your ticket and get there early. Last entry 2.30pm. Sign up ‘This Ain’t Normal!’ - Youth Climate Film Project, Summer 2025  We are excited to invite your child(ren) to take part in ‘This Ain’t Normal!’, a youth-led creative climate film project happening this summer in Brent. Young people aged 8 to 21 who live in Brent are eligible to take part. The summer programme runs throughout August 2025, with twice-weekly sessions (Mondays and Wednesdays) from 10am–1pm, held at Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ. Monthly follow-up sessions on the first Saturday of the month will continue from September 2025 to February 2026.  Sign up by contacting  climateemergency@brent.gov.uk via the link below.  Sign up Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley Park, Wembley, HA9 0FJ Manage subscription |  Unsubscribe |  Website

Pro-Israel legal group threatens 'further action' in bid to stop Brent residents' project to twin with Nablus

 UK Lawyers for Israel have been advising Ian Collier of Reform and Cllr Michael Maurice  of the Brent Conservative Group on their attempts to overthrow Brent Council's democratic decision to support a twinning project with Nablus, in the West Bank - a project that was initially proposed by a diverse group of local residents. The project, Brent Nablus Twinning Association, will be at no cost to council tax payers.

In an escalation of the issue the UKLFL, a controversial organisation (see LINK) has announced that it is involving the Board of Deputies and threatens further action:

UKLFI will continue to work with local residents to urge Brent to reconsider this divisive political posturing.  If appropriate, UKLFI will take further action to force Brent to see how its actions are unlawful.  We are working with the Board of Deputies and other non-Jewish organisations to understand what is happening at a Council which seems to run without accountability and transparency nor due regard for its residents.  This is another example of British local governments prioritising antisemitic and far left ideological pursuits over the needs of local residents.

Tory tea and biscuits for Reform supporters ahead of Nablus petition presentation

I understand that Tory councillor Michael Maurice commandeered the Tory Group's office office at the Civic Centre yesterday evening to offer Reform's Brent West Candidate, Ian Collier and his eight or so supporters tea and biscuits ahead of the Full Council meeting. Apparently, using his electronic tag, he then escorted them from the 4th floor into the 3rd floor Council Chamber where they were able to occupy the front row of the Public Gallery before admittance of the general public who had been queueing outside.

From that position the group were able to applaud every utterance of Cllr Maurice and Ian Collier and barrack Palestine supporters. 

Ian Collier, a former Conservative supporter, describes himself on LinkedIn as a retired actuary and investment banker but claimed to be a representative of the people of Brent when he presented his petition opposing the Brent-Nablus Twinning.  In fact in the Brent West General Election he came 6th out of six candidates with 4.98% of the vote, losing his deposit.

Presenting the petition Collier spoke about 'We British people' opposing sectarianism and divisiveness but then said that the names on his petition were 'almost entirely English sounding names, Jewish sounding, Hindu, Sikh, Jain sounding - an array of the richness of Brent's ethnic groups. There is one group that is missing, there are hardly any Muslim sounding names on the petition.'

He claimed that this indicated that the twinning had caused division and then in a statement that did not appear to help heal division, and amid cries of 'lies',  'rubbish' and 'that is a slur', said it was 'being pushed that the twinning arrangement is no more than a sham to transfer funds and resources to a proscribed organisation.'

He went on to say, 'Let's assume that this is not the case' but then suggested that the setting up of a Community Interest Company as part of the project was acknowledged to be 'far less regulated than a charity.'

Before his main response, Cllr Butt, leader of the council, said on the lack of Muslim names that his and other Muslim councillors' names had been added as signatories wihout their consent. (They had been removed after the petitioners had drawn attention to the matter).

Adopting an emolliative tone he said the council had been working with the petition organisers to resolve any misunderstandings and it was important that their voices be heard. He recognised that the petitioners cared deeply about the borough and its shared values and he emphasised that Brent is 'deeply proud' to be the home of a vibrant Jewish community with roots that go back generations.

He said the borough was a place of many cultured and faiths and it was the Council's to make sure every resident feels safe and heard.

He went on, 'I'm personally aware of the anxieties raised and we are not ignoring them. I will be meeting with representatives of the Jewish community to hear their concerns and my door will be open to meet with the petitioners.' 

Cllr Butt continued, 'I'm qute clear and Cllr Afzal (supporter of the twinning) agrees with me that if the twinning is to be a success it must be about peace, cultural exchange and mutual understanding...Brent has always attempted to build bridges where we can.'

He said that the Council had been in contact with the Nablus local government following the petition, and would ensure that the concerns were addressed if they had not already been answered.  He said that utlimately the aim is to builld relationships that support, not divide, and it will be the responsibility of the Brent Nablus Twinning association to do just that. 

The issue came back with a Conservative motion about the process of approving twinning arrangements later on the agenda, although Cllr Maurice managed a contribution that got applause from the Reform supporters. Later another Tory got a dig in by quoting Cllr Nerva's words opposing the twinning to Cllr Butt.

I think Cllr Maurice's colleagues will not be entirely at ease with his flirtation with Reform and this may cause problems ahead of the 2026 local elections and some Labour councillors may feel that Cllr Butt should have objected strongly to some of Collier's more extreme comments and unevidenced allegations.

 

 PS Challenged on the checking of names on petitions Brent Council said there had been random checks but now new more robust checking procedures will be adopted,

 

 

 

UPDATE: MOTION APPROVED -Full Council tomorrow includes a debate on a 'visitor levy' on Brent hotels

 

UPDATE: The Labour motion on a visitor tax was passed with Liberal Democrat support. The Conservatives voted against. There was some discussion with Cllr Kelcher wanting a lower overnight rate of £1-2 so as not to discourage visitors.

 

There are some people who say Brent Council can't tell the difference between its bottom and the knobbly bit on the bend of its arm. I couldn't possibly comment, but the notice on its 'landing' webpage https://www.brent.gov.uk/ could be cited as evidence and  the mistake is repeated on the 'Council meetings and decision making' page,

Tomorrow's meeting is in fact Full Council and there are a number of important  items that members of the public may miss if they are misled by the notice.

The items include questions from the public and Brent Youth Parliament members to Cabinet members  on debt collection practices when residents are facing the cost of living crisis, and council seeking the voices of young peope on crime and safety.

There are petitions on the exorbitant rent increase faced by the East Lane Theatre, against modification or discharge of the restrictive covenant on Barham Park, and against the Nablus Twinning arrangement. The latter does not mention that the lead petitioner, Iain Collier, is the Reform candidate for Brent West.

 There are the usual party group motions. The Tories line up with Reform on Nablus,  Lib Dems twist Brent Counci's current 'Don't Mess with Brent' environment campaign with a motion entitled 'Stop Messing Up Brent' and Labour move one on encouraging schools to restrict use of smart phones and another on protecting the rights of delivery riders and the safety of pedestrians.

 The penultimate item is the non-cabinet members debate with a motion moved by Cllr Mary Mitchell. I declare an interest as I have previously advocated a Brent Visitor Tax to raise funds to mitigate the impact of Wembley Stadium and Arena visitors on local residents:

 Motion for Non-Cabinet Member debate

Empowering Brent with Visitor Levy Powers to Support Our
Communities

This Council notes:

 The growing number of successful events taking place in Wembley, which are a vital part of Brent’s local economy, attracting visitors from across the country and around the world, supporting jobs (1,800 Brent jobs from the Stadium),
businesses and hospitality across our borough.

 Each additional non-sporting event at Wembley Stadium generates an estimated £4.35 million through direct local expenditure. With Oasis, Coldplay and other acts arriving this summer, Wembley Park will be in the spotlight as a world-class cultural destination.

 Hotel occupancy is high across Wembley during events at the Stadium or the
Arena and capacity is estimated at nearly 1,800 rooms.

 Aside from the significant economic benefits, major events in Wembley
understandably bring additional pressures on residents, including disruption,
waste, congestion, noise and increased demand on council services.

 Brent Council is working proactively to mitigate these challenges, partnering with Wembley Stadium to ensure tickets are shared in the local community, giving residents access to events happening on their doorstep.

 Glasgow City Council has been granted powers to introduce a modest Visitor
Levy (on average £4.83 per night), which could generate £16m in additional
income from overnight stays, with the funds ringfenced for services such as street
sweeping, parks, infrastructure, and environmental enforcement.

This Council also notes:

 The recommendation made by the London Assembly, that the Mayor of London should ‘advocate for London’s live music industry to introduce a voluntary levy on arena and stadium tickets to support grassroots music venues in London.’

This Council believes:

 Brent should be empowered by government with powers to introduce a visitor
levy on hotel and short-stay accommodation within the borough.

 The revenue generated should be invested into transforming Brent’s public realm making Brent greener through investment in street trees and green infrastructure, enhanced street cleaning, and additional waste enforcement officers.

 A visitor levy would ensure those who benefit from Brent’s world-class facilities also contribute a small amount towards maintaining high-quality services and a cleaner, greener borough.

 This is a progressive, and practical measure utilised across European cities and
could supplement council funding at a time when local authorities like Brent face
sustained financial pressures.

This Council therefore resolves to:

(1) Write to the Secretary of State, calling for London boroughs, including Brent to be granted the powers to introduce a discretionary visitor levy on overnight stays.

(2) Write to the Mayor of London to support the London Assembly call for a voluntary levy on stadium and arena tickets to fund grassroots cultural opportunities.

(3) Continue to work with partners including Quintain, the FA, event organisers,
businesses and residents to ensure that the benefits of Wembley’s success are
shared fairly, and that residents' voices shape our work to establish a Visitors
Levy here in Brent.

(4) Work with London Councils, the GLA, and the LGA to build cross-party support for an amendment to the English Devolution Bill to grant the powers necessary to all local authorities to introduce Visitors Levies where supported.

Cllr Mary Mitchell
Welsh Harp ward

 

The full agenda for the meeting can be found HERE (fingers crossed!)

WEBCAST 6PM