In another post, he reshared a comment that said “Labour is a dead horse riddled with Zionist maggots hell-bent on spilling more blood and protecting their own interests”.
One of Esposito's posts claimed the Labour Party is run by 'neo Liberal zionists'[Missing Credit]
Responding to the controversy in the Worcester News, the Green mayor said: “I take antisemitism very seriously. I was not aware of these comments before I appointed Mr Esposito as my orator.
"In light of these comments, I have decided that it is not appropriate for him to continue as my orator. I will be appointing a new orator shortly.”
Esposito is also the poet-in-residence at Birmingham City FC, has been repeatedly featured on the BBC and delivers poetry workshops in schools, advertising his availability for classes for children aged five to 16 in the Midlands.
A Jewish resident of Worcester, who wished to remain anonymous, told the JC that concerns remain about his work in schools.
“This poet who was got rid of by the mayor was a parliamentary candidate twice. He goes into schools. His publisher didn't see the issue. The council have done nothing. There are no consequences, and we [Jews] don't matter,” they said.
“I don't have an external mezuzah. They have been damaged here in the past. I'm scared. Have been for years. But I have family and a life here. Everyone here who is Jewish has a story.”
He reposted another message describing the Labour party as 'riddled with zionist maggots'[Missing Credit]
There are believed to be around one hundred Jews in Worcester, though there is no synagogue.
Referring to local councillors’ comments about Israel and Palestine, and the council’s vote in 2009 to twin with Gaza (a decision that later fell through), the Jewish resident said there is “constant stuff about Palestine” in the city, “and you just have to ask ‘why is it relevant here?’”
The JC has separately uncovered posts reshared by a Green city councillor repeatedly targeting Israel.
Neil Laurenson, the city’s first Green councillor, has reposted messages on X stating that “the world can have peace or Israel. It can’t have both” and claiming that all major party leaders, apart from Zack Polanski, are “in Israel’s pocket trying to pander to 0.5 per cent of the population”.
Another repost on Laurenson’s account appears to compare Anne Frank with the children in countries where the IDF operates.
“Today’s Anne Frank is a Lebanese Muslim girl hiding in the attic of a Lebanese Christian family, terrified of Israeli Jewish soldiers finding her and killing her,” the post stated.
Responding to the JC, Laurenson said: “I strongly oppose antisemitism and racism of all types.”
Esposito said: “I am NOT antisemitic. You will notice that NONE of my posts refer to Jews or Judaism. I have no issue whatsoever with Jews and Judaism as a religion, as I have no issue with anyone practising their religion freely and peacefully. I wholeheartedly support it!
"I am, however, a very vocal and passionate critic of the state of Israel and Zionist supporters of the genocidal state of Israel, as I am with any ‘state’ that commits crimes against humanity.
“I shared that post from Andy P Miller with a ‘F*** Israel’ header. I thought his use of figurative speech/metaphor, summed up a situation emotively well. This implied that the Labour Party was (and is?) being influenced by Israel, for example, the proscribing of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, which has since been rejected by a judicial review in the High Court.
“It is interesting that an inquiry is being launched as we speak, with the influence of Israel in British Government being investigated.
“I stand by ‘IDF Fascist scum’. This is an organisation that oppresses the people of Palestine. Their despicable actions are well documented.
“Netanyahu ACTIVELY helped Hamas (a terrorist organisation) to gain power. Why would he do that?
"I came to my opinion of the Israeli government not wanting a two-state solution, based on that.
"I am deeply sorry if this makes Jews feel uncomfortable, but my criticism is NOT of Judaism and Jews but of the state of Israel and its Zionist supporters. I DO NOT hold Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the state of Israel. Please note that NOT all Zionists are Jews and NOT all Jews are Zionists, and to conflate Zionism with being Jewish is in itself an act of antisemitism.
“Yes, I work with children in schools up and down the country, trying to inspire them with writing and enjoying poetry and writing, a little bit like (but not on the same scale as) the beautiful Jewish author, Michael Rosen."
