Barnet Labour statement on Full Council meeting 20th October 2026
Barnet Labour affirmed its opposition to antisemitism, as it opposes all forms of racism, passing a motion condemning the Green Party’s recently agreed policy stating ‘Zionism is racism’.
The Green Party policy diverges from normal political practice of arguing about policies to attacking a community’s identity.
The same policy also committed the Green Party to campaign against the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism and the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism.
Councillor Barry Rawlings, Leader of Barnet’s Labour-administered council said:
“Jewish residents have told us how concerned they are about the Green Party policy. It echoes the worst kind of antisemitism that came out of the Soviet Union. We want Jewish communities to know that we stand by them, and will not let them be marginalised or ostracised.”
The Labour Group abstained on a Conservative Party motion to twin Barnet with the Israeli city of Haifa.
The motion was brought forward after the London Borough of Hackney, controlled for the first time by the Green party following the May 2026, voted to end its relationship with Haifa that has existed since 1968.
Barnet Labour considers Hackney’s decision to be a destructive and provocative move, which will alienate many Jewish residents of Hackney. We note that the leader of the Labour-led borough of Hertsmere has indicated strongly that he wishes to twin that district with Haifa.
The London Borough of Barnet currently faces significant financial challenges and difficult decisions must be made. The council has declined other suggestions for twinnings in recent years with towns in Ukraine and Malaysia, and we are already proudly twinned with the Israeli city of Ramat Gan.
In that context, the Barnet Labour group cannot vote for a financial commitment which is open-ended in terms of duration. However, out of respect for Haifa, a multicultural city where both Jews and Arabs are represented in administration and which hosts the international headquarters of the Bahai faith, the group did not vote against.
