Sefton Council Roasted by Conservative Leader for Failing to Show Solidarity with Israel

Conservative Group Leader on Sefton Council, Councillor Mike Prendergast, has criticised the Labour leadership of Sefton Council for failing to fly the Israeli flag in the days following the terrorist attacks in Israel or put out any kind of public statement. 

Public buildings across the UK have been lit up with images of the Israeli flag and many Town Halls have proudly flown the Israeli flag as a visible symbol of support for Israel and for the Jewish communities up and down the country. However, there has been no such display of solidarity in Sefton, at either Bootle Town Hall or Southport Town Hall.

Councillor Prendergast said, “I am extremely disappointed with the failure of Sefton Council, to make any kind of statement or any visible show of support for Israel and our Jewish community in Sefton.

An unprecedented, appalling terrorist attack has been perpetrated by Hamas, a terrorist organisation, against Israel. Throughout the UK, as a visible symbol of support, many Town Halls have flown the Israeli flag and have been lit up in  blue and white.

Over the last few days, since the attack, Sefton Council have found time on their social media channels to post a video about a skatepark in Bootle, promote the Sefton Design Awards, promote the Mayor of Sefton’s Diva Night as well as advertise The Lake House in Waterloo as a wedding venue. 

I don’t think it is too much to ask for the borough to also show some support and solidarity for the victims of a heinous terrorist attack. I first requested the flying of the Israeli flag at Southport and Bootle Town Halls on Sunday, the only response I have received is to say we haven’t got a flag and couldn’t get one, which is a pretty feeble excuse.

Sefton Council have not done anything or made any kind of statement. I think this is, quite frankly, shameful and I urge the Labour leadership of Sefton Council to make some kind of statement condemning the terrorist attacks and showing solidarity with Israel and the Jewish community in Sefton, many of whom may have been directly affected by what has happened.

As Leader of the Conservative Group on Sefton Council I want to put on record my condemnation of the barbaric terrorist attacks in Israel and our support for the Israeli people and the right they have to self defence. 

We think it is of vital importance that Sefton Council makes a very public statement of its support for Israel and our Jewish community and makes it clear that we totally and utterly condemn the actions of Hamas, a terrorist organisation banned here in the UK.”