News / Politics
Bristol Labour councillor defects to join Greens
A Labour councillor has defected to the Greens in Bristol, meaning that the Green group now hold exactly half of the seats at City Hall.
Frome Vale councillor Alsayed Al-Maghrabi previously described himself as “a dedicated member of the Labour Party” and represented Bristol West’s youth at a Labour Party conference.
But Al-Maghrabi, who has a background in law, said that “it has become apparent over time that the party has left me”.
Al-Maghrabi’s defection has been welcomed by Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who said he “will be a huge asset to the Greens in Bristol, and we’re delighted to have him on board”.
Bristol Green group leader, Emma Edwards, said “it is a brave thing to leave a party that no longer aligns with you and to stand up for what you believe in” and that Al-Maghrabi “will be a huge asset to our group”.
Al-Maghrabi said: “While today I am leaving the Labour Party, this is only because it has become apparent over time that the party has left me.
“I no longer recognise the values of fairness, compassion and social justice that inspired me to join, values that I now recognise in the Green Party.
“From refusing to tax wealth, continuing to enable genocide, and echoing Reform’s divisive rhetoric on immigration, I and many others have been deeply disappointed with the direction of the national leadership.
“I will never stop standing up for equality, justice and the right to speak truth to power.
“These are the same principles that first brought me into public life, and principles that I now find in the Green Party.
“I am incredibly excited to join the Greens to put hope back into the politics of Bristol.”
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A Labour Party spokesperson said: “It is disappointing that Cllr Al-Maghrabi has decided to join the Green Party after local people chose a Labour voice to represent them.
“The Green Party leader has admitted he would rip the UK out of NATO. This is irresponsible, would deepen global instability and put our national security at risk.
“The Labour government took the historic step to recognise the State of Palestine to protect the two-state solution and affirm the rights of Palestinians, delivering on our manifesto commitment.
“We are working closely with international partners to maintain the ceasefire, while pushing to get aid into Gaza at the pace and volume that is required to match the scale of the devastating crisis.“
“Labour is focussed on renewing Britain and is delivering for Bristol.
“The government has introduced new breakfast clubs and school-based nurseries for kids across the city, including in Frome Vale, provided up to 30 hours free childcare for working parents, given a pay rise to the lowest paid and put in law the Renters’ Rights Act that gives the biggest upgrade to renters’ rights in a generation.
“In contrast, the Green Party in Bristol are letting residents down with mismanagement and broken promises.
“We’ve seen proposals for four-weekly black bin collections, backroom deals with the Tories to cancel council housing projects, raids at 4am to impose unwanted traffic schemes on communities and financial errors amounting to millions of pounds.”
Main photo: Labour Party
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