Camden Liberal Democrats write to Camden New Journal to speak out against the Green Party's 'Zionism is Racism' motion

The Camden Liberal Democrats have written a letter to the Camden New Journal, expressing their serious concerns over The Green Party's ‘Zionism is Racism’ motion, recently passed at The Green Party Conference. You can read the full letter below ↓

We repeat – there’s no place for hate in Camden’s politics. Last week we wrote to this paper condemning the right-wing attacks on the Labour candidate in Thursday’s election, and their calls for the removal of rights from people who arrived here seeking sanctuary from persecution over decades, even centuries.

This week we write to condemn the motion passed by the Green Party at their Conference on Sunday, which rejects a two-state solution and calls for the establishment of a single Palestinian state through “all available means”, which includes armed struggle against Israel. We condemn utterly their rejection of the amendment that the motion should not be used to “pressure, proscribe or discipline members based on affiliation with Jewish community institutions.” In other words, they had the opportunity to protect British, Jewish, Green Party members who attend synagogues or volunteer for Jewish charities from disciplinary action by the party, and they chose not to take it.

With these votes, the Green Party has crossed a line. The rights to manifest one’s religion and of freedom of association are fundamental human rights, and these are now at risk. In the Liberal Democrats, we will continue to speak up for the values of liberty, equality and community. We will continue to call for the bold, urgent action needed to tackle climate change. We will make welcome any real Greens who choose to join us.

Cllr Tom Simon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Camden Council
Cllr Patrick Stillman, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Holborn & St Pancras
Katie Mansfield, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Hampstead & Highgate