The Green Party's candidate to replace Andy Burnham as Mayor of Greater Manchester has been condemned for her plans to twin the city region with the Palestinian city of Ramallah. Geraldine Coggins will unveil her proposals outside a Manchester mosque today.
Her manifesto states that if elected she will use her position to urge Westminster to "stop arming the genocide in Gaza and call for urgent international efforts to end the illegal occupation of Palestinian land". The West Bank city of Ramallah is the administrative centre of the Palestinian Authority.
Announcement and reaction
Voters will go to the polls next Thursday to choose Greater Manchester's Mayor. Ms Coggins will say: "Greater Manchester has a proud tradition of international solidarity, from the campaign against apartheid to welcoming refugees fleeing conflict. In that spirit, I will explore opportunities to twin Greater Manchester with Ramallah in the occupied Palestinian territories, creating lasting partnerships between our communities and demonstrating our commitment to peace, justice and human dignity."
She will accuse Labour of being "complicit" in "horrific war crimes". The Greens say Ramallah was chosen because it also has "growing technology, creative and professional services sectors" and is "well-placed for partnerships with Greater Manchester's universities".
Criticism from Conservatives
Phil Eckersley, the Conservative's mayoral candidate, condemned the Greens for making the announcement in a city which last year was the scene of the Heaton Park synagogue attack. He said the proposal to twin with Ramallah came "when Jewish people are feeling profound hurt following a terrorist attack against them on the streets of our city to make this announcement".
"This is proof, if proof were needed, that the Greens have no plan for Greater Manchester and are more interested in pursuing divisive sectarian politics than bringing our communities together," he said.
