The Liberal Democrats have been blasted for joining a coalition with the Green Party and local independents in Birmingham to take control of the city council.
The Lib Dem-Green-independent coalition follows Labour’s defeat at last month’s local elections. It had previously run Birmingham City Council since 2010.
One controversial appointment to a leading position is Lib Dem councillor Mumtaz Hussain. She backed a campaign to ban Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv from their side’s clash against Aston Villa and was a member of the safety advisory group that backed the decision to ban Israeli fans from attending the fixture.
She had previously appeared in a video alongside local MP Ayoub Khan, an independent former Lib Dem elected on a pro-Gaza platform, soliciting signatures for a petition to ban the Israeli side.
Taken outside the club’s Villa Park stadium, Hussain said: “We are the voice of the people. And this is something that a lot of people in Aston do not want.”
She went on to “strongly urge Aston Villa to reconsider” hosting the game against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
At the time, the Lib Dems nationally publicly disagreed with the position she took, describing the decision to ban Maccabi fans as “a serious mistake”.
Hussain now serves as Deputy Cabinet Member for Children, Young People, and Families.
The JC first revealed Dutch documents that appeared to show West Midlands Police exaggerated the hooliganism of the Israeli fans in Amsterdam in a bid to justify their ban. Subsequent inquiry revealed that the threat to Israeli fans by locals threatening to arm themselves was downplayed by the force and only revealed by senior officers after MPs “specifically” questioned them about it.
The JC has previously reported that the local Jewish community had objected to Sir Ed Davey’s party joining a coalition with the Green Party.
Richard Parker, Labour’s mayor of the West Midlands, criticised the new city council for appearing to ignore the wishes of Birmingham’s Jewish community.
“The Jewish community has made its concerns clear. And it’s deeply disappointing that those concerns appear to have been ignored and brushed aside.
“Birmingham is one of the most diverse cities in the world. Residents have a right to expect that those appointed to leadership positions represent every community and will do so with fairness and respect”, he told the JC.
Parker continued: “At a time when antisemitism is on the rise, political leaders should be working to build confidence and bring communities together.
“There is a significant risk that appointments like this will undermine confidence in the decency of the new administration and its approach to community safety and cohesion. I will encourage them to consider the issues raised.”
The Jewish Labour Movement urged the Liberal Democrats to “get a grip of their Birmingham party”.
The organisation’s chair, Ella-Rose Jacobs, told the JC: “Entering into a coalition with the Greens and the Independents in Birmingham shows a willingness to compromise on the safety of the Jewish community in order to get into power.”
Despite the criticism from the community over their deal with the Green Party, the JC understands that the new Lib Dem leader of Birmingham Council Roger Harmer is engaging with the Jewish community in an effort to listen to their concerns.
Liberal Democrat spokesperson told the JC: "The Liberal Democrats stand unequivocally against antisemitism, and there is no place for hate or divisive rhetoric in our politics.
"The Green Party needs to take responsibility for the actions of their members and do far more to seriously tackle antisemitism within their own ranks.
"Decisions about local council arrangements are made entirely by local councillors on the ground, who know their communities best. The local election result in Birmingham means that parties have had to work together to deliver a functioning local government for the city's residents."
Mumtaz Hussain has been contacted for comment
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