Plans for Preston City Council to strike up a ‘friendship agreement’ with a Palestinian town have polarised opinion amongst leading figures in the local Muslim and Jewish communities - and left the authority accused of taking sides in the near six-month war in Gaza.
Council leader Matthew Brown announced earlier this month that the town hall was exploring the possibility of making the gesture “as a symbol of our sympathy with the people of Palestine the wider Middle East”. Mukhtar Master, the Muslim lead on the city’s faith covenant, has welcomed the move - for which he says the thousands of people who have attended Palestinian solidarity marches and demonstrations in Preston in recent months can claim credit.
Master added. A month after the start of the conflict, all 20 of Preston’s mosques demanded the city council’s Labour members write a letter calling on national party leader Sir Keir Starmer to quit over his stance and his then decision not to press for a ceasefire. While such a missive was never sent, the authority as a whole - by an overwhelming majority - later backed a call for an immediate halt to the fighting. Mr.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Preston City Council leader Matthew Brown on Guild Hall, Preston Model, public scrutiny and moreCllr Matthew Brown Leader of Preston City Council at the Guild Hall Preston - pictured in 2023 inside the venue The leader of Preston City Council has been
Read more »
Preston City Council announce ‘friendship plan’ for a town in GazaA Pro-Palestinian protest on the Flag Market Pic: Blog Preston Preston City Council is exploring the possibility of a friendship arrangement with a town in
Read more »
Preston City Council’s plan to return social housing to the cityHorrocks Mill plans Council housing could eventually be on offer again in Preston – for the first time in two decades – as part of a deal to enable the
Read more »
People in Gaza have lost faith in humanity, says Palestinian student in ScotlandA Palestinian PhD student living in Scotland has said “a lot of people in Gaza have lost faith in humanity” as he spoke about his family members…
Read more »
Preston Rotary Club donates £12,000 to Let’s Grow PrestonPreston Rotary Club has donated £12,000 to Let's Grow Preston. The Rotary Club of Preston Guild decided to support Let’s Grow Preston after hearing o
Read more »
Preston Pulse: Showcasing Preston's Cultural SceneA passionate Prestonian, Rory is keen to use his skills in video and socials to raise the city’s profile as a cultural destination by showcasing live music, events, and the arts.
Read more »