A Green Party candidate shouted “Allahu Akbar!......

Cossy, I agree the turnout was disappointing. I'd have thought the new fashion for these regional mayors would interest people a lot! I am happy Sadiq Khan got in for a third term in London . I always liked him as a person and for what he has done for London. He is a real secular in office and a credit to Islam.

Oreo, there are certain totally black or white situations of which shades of grey don't apply. The Holocaust is one such totally black situation. WWII was a just war.

The Jews were victims of a terrible total evil. Now the Palestinians are victims of former victims. The pendulum swings, and moderate values are gone.

I'd say there is warranted concern for the way this event was used - and I hope there is some kind of action that can be properly taken - but reasons for being seriously disturbed?

Here is the front page for the Yorkshire Post, based in Leeds, a right leaning regional paper.

Oreo

Well that’s what they’ve now got on a lot of councils unfortunately!

But their constituents vote them in! Perhaps if we were all a little less apathetic about getting off our bottoms and all voted this wouldn’t happen quite so much. Turnouts are appallingly low.

Despite living in a very ethnically diverse area this doesn’t happen in our area.

I wonder if the new Councillor himself is going to end up a bit disillusioned. Local Government is closely regulated and not necessarily responsible for all the things people think they should be. If he does his new job properly he won’t have much time for Gaza or his family. I hope the Officer core are ready in Leeds.

Well that’s what they’ve now got on a lot of councils unfortunately!

Granny Rose wrote:

"-----men wearing Islamic dress unfurled a Palestinian flag and the newly elected councillor made a pro Hamas speech. This was a local election. Supposedly nothing to do with national let alone international politics. Don’t you think the people of Leeds have a right to feel a little disturbed if this is the sort of person who is supposed to be running their local services."

One may feel disturbed that any councillors promote their ethnicity whatever that be. A councillor should be secular.
Extreme traditional ethnicity often accompanies lack of post -enlightenment education

I can guess who voted him in.Mainly the Greens and fellow Muslims. The way he carried on was a disgrace and gives a flavour of how he will continue to carry on imo.

Greens face showdown with government antisemitism adviser over new councillors
Lord Mann will discuss the conduct of newly elected councillors, including one who hailed getting a seat on Leeds city council as a ‘win for the people of Gaza’
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/greens-face-showdown-with-government-antisemitism-adviser-over-new-councillors-qftnppdz7

Oreo
GrannyRose15

I think the people of Leeds, some of whom must have voted this candidate in, should wait and see how this person performs.

I have no issue with him being Muslim (or indeed any other Muslim person living in the UK or anyone else for that matter), I have no issue with him using the phrase he used. I do, however, completely object to him, and any other candidates including George Galloway, using Gaza as an issue to win an English local govt election.

It doesn’t mean he cannot support Gaza, support fellow Muslims or even express his views and beliefs, but this should all be secondary to his local community duties and concerns.

I too would love to see a ceasefire in Gaza (and all the other countries, and there are many of them, at war). I don’t want to see any more innocent citizens, irrespective of their faith, colour, creed, nationality, needlessly killed.

In just the same way as I wish to see the human traffickers stopped from sending migrants on dangerous, life threatening journeys across the channel or in the back of lorries.

I simply want the hate and killing to come to an end! Any decent human being would feel the same, imo.

Caleo it must be nice being able to see things as totally black or totally white in this matter.

Curtain Twitcher wrote:
"------you can sympathise with the Palestinians but still support Israel."

That sort of 'sympathise' is crocodile tears. If you sincerely sympathise with the Palestinians you would condemn Israel's war against Palestinians as it it has been and as as Netanyahu intends to do in the foreseeable future.
Israel as it exists at present is exclusively either a good guy or a bad guy.
I side with international law which Israel has broken many times.

Iam64

Freya5

OldFrill

Hardly likely to shout Rule Britannia in the circumstances.

No they are so bloody ungrateful for the shelter this country has given them.

What on earth are you talking about? The Muslims in my area are family of those invited here in the 50’s and 60’s to work our cotton mills. The links between Pakistan/India and the UK result from us invading and colonising their homeland.

The Muslims in my family (ie my daughter's in-laws and extended family) couldn't be more grateful for the life they've had in the UK, especially compared with the lives their relatives are leading in Yemen and Sudan.

Anniebach

This a Muslim

Goodness me! Shock horror! A Muslim? Whatever next?

GrannyRose15

Glorianny Thanks for letting me know that the Green Party has been complicit in letting a Trojan horse into local town councils. My initial thought was that they had been foolish but I was obviously being too generous.

Doesn’t reflect well on the Greens does it? They’ll let anyone in by the sound of it.Hope this is a warning to all.

Cossy

Callistemon21

Campaigns for seats on the local Council should concentrate on local issues.

Schools, housing, social care, local transport, roads, recycling etc.

I completely agree

I agree too.

Freya5

OldFrill

Hardly likely to shout Rule Britannia in the circumstances.

No they are so bloody ungrateful for the shelter this country has given them.

What an absolutely disgusting comment! Who are they?

It reminds me of the "Who's she? The cat's grandmother?" rebukes form my grandmother.

They are human beings. You really should make an effort to meet some of them. Try volunteering for a few days. You'll meet many people who are far from bloody ungrateful for the welcome which many people in the UK have given them.

Callistemon21

Campaigns for seats on the local Council should concentrate on local issues.

Schools, housing, social care, local transport, roads, recycling etc.

I completely agree

GrannyRose15

It is NOT the same as saying Thank God. A large group of men wearing Islamic dress unfurled a Palestinian flag and the newly elected councillor made a pro Hamas speech. This was a local election. Supposedly nothing to do with national let alone international politics. Don’t you think the people of Leeds have a right to feel a little disturbed if this is the sort of person who is supposed to be running their local services.

Bloody Hell! Yes I do feel the people in Leeds have a lot to be disturbed by, sheesh!

“ No they are so bloody ungrateful for the shelter this country has given them.”

I cannot actually believe ANYONE thinks it’s ok to print this comment!

You’ll be telling us next how ungrateful all the commonwealth (& ex) countries are for the Brits invasions and takeovers!

Here are the front pages of all the main newspapers today.

news.sky.com/story/saturdays-national-newspaper-front-pages-12427754

The overwhelming news is " where now" for the Conservatives after Thursdays elections.

The Mail has found its "shock horror" issue to cover these concerns and is on its own - fear mongering.

Indeed, what is actually happening in Rafah today has more space on the front pages.

As I've said above, using the "platform" in this way is wholly inappropriate, and what matters is how local councillors actually serve their voters and the community.

This a Muslim

Freya5

Glorianny

If we had an effective opposition, which took a stand against our involvement in the war, by opposing the supply of arms to Israel, and our involvement in training Israeli military personnel, then, perhaps there would be no need for anyone to stand on the issue of Gaza.

It isn't only Muslims who care about what is happening there. And it isn't only this country that has groups actively opposing the war.

So you would rather we allow Hamas to destroy Israel, as is their aim. That is your stance obviously. Disgusting.

I do not support Hamas in any way.
I often disagree with Glorianny but she’s correct in saying that it isn’t only Muslims who care about what’s happening in Israel/Gaza

I’m concerned that this awful war is causing division and hatred.

Freya5

OldFrill

Hardly likely to shout Rule Britannia in the circumstances.

No they are so bloody ungrateful for the shelter this country has given them.

What on earth are you talking about? The Muslims in my area are family of those invited here in the 50’s and 60’s to work our cotton mills. The links between Pakistan/India and the UK result from us invading and colonising their homeland.

OldFrill

Hardly likely to shout Rule Britannia in the circumstances.

No they are so bloody ungrateful for the shelter this country has given them.