Adam Ramsay

In light of the 'Zionism is not Racism' motion being brought by Conservative Councillor Hannah Galley @HRGalley & Labour Councillor David Boothroyd @220_d_92_20 to the upcoming meeting of Westminster City Council on 11th November, I have submitted an urgent legal query to the council's legal department. There are serious legal deficiencies regarding the Notice of Motion 12(a), "Zionism is not Racism," scheduled for debate on 11 November 2026. Local authorities do possess broad powers of debate, but they must exercise their functions in strict compliance with the Equality Act 2010. Adopting this motion as currently drafted risks placing Westminster City Council in breach of its statutory duties under Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 (the Public Sector Equality Duty), specifically regarding its adverse impacts on Palestinian, British-Palestinian, Arab, anti-Zionist Jews, and associated Muslim residents who hold protected characteristics of race, nationality, and belief. There is also a complete failure to Conduct an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) on this matter. The motion creates a hostile environment that, for many Palestinian residents of Westminster, erases the historical and ongoing manifestation of Zionism and the directly associated displacement, statelessness, and systemic inequality experienced by Palestinians as a result of Zionism in practice. For a local authority to officially declare that this ideology is entirely absolved of discriminatory character effectively marginalises and silences the lived experiences of Palestinian and British-Palestinian constituents. This risks creating an exclusionary public sphere, potentially amounting to unlawful harassment under Section 26 of the Equality Act. By wading into a deeply polarising geopolitical debate to adopt a singular perspective, the Council actively inflames community tensions. Rather than promoting understanding, this motion pits the protected characteristics of one local demographic against another, directly undermining Section 149(1)(c). The proposed motion erroneously treats the Jewish community as a political monolith by conflating Jewish identity inherently with Zionism. In doing so, the Council fails to consider the severe adverse impacts of this motion on anti-Zionist Jewish residents within the borough. Additionally, the motions use and reliance upon the IHRA definition to pre-emptively declare that specific political viewpoints regarding Zionism cannot be scrutinised or categorised as discriminatory by members of the public or political parties suppresses legitimate political discourse and free speech. This triggers further compliance issues under Article 10 (Freedom of Expression) of the Human Rights Act 1998. It is incumbent upon @CityWestminster's legal department and the councillors proposing this motion to immediately withdrawal or defer Motion 12(a) until a rigorous, independent Equality Impact Assessment can be carried out.