Councillor Kate Knight, deputy chair of the council’s Children, Young People & Skills Committee has today informed the council that she has resigned as a member of the Labour Party and from the council’s Labour Group with immediate effect.
The council understands that several complaints have recently been made to the national Labour Party based mainly on allegedly antisemitic posts Councillor Knight made on Facebook between 2016 and March 2019.
Councillor Knight is now an independent councillor representing the Moulsecoomb and Bevendean ward in the city.
Council Leader Nancy Platts today said it brought shame on the whole Labour Party to see these posts.
“On behalf of the Labour Group, I am truly sorry to the Jewish community for the hurt these posts have caused.
“I reached out to a leading member of the local Jewish community last week. Following that conversation I have re-circulated information to my Group, stressing the importance of checking the reliability of sources before sharing on social media.
“Antisemitism is a poison that must be challenged wherever it raises its head. Hatred towards Jewish people has no place in our society.
“I have agreed with the Labour Group that we will establish a Code of Conduct for all Labour councillors. This will have an emphasis on social media and the absolute necessity of ensuring people know that what they’re sharing comes from trusted sources of information, and the importance of recognising antisemitic tropes.
“Councillor Knight has taken the right action in resigning from the Labour Group and the Labour Party.
“We will continue to take steps to address antisemitism, and actively challenge racism in our city.”
The council’s memberships is now as follows:
· 19 from the Labour Group
· 19 from the Green Group
· 13 from the Conservative Group
· 3 independents