A chaotic Bolton council meeting saw the public gallery cleared after disruption and a walkout by several councillors as a request to fly the Palestinian flag on the town’s library was brought forward.
Flag request and anniversary
The agenda of the full council meeting included a question from Rumworth Green Party councillor Ismail Ibrahim, who asked for the Palestinian flag to be flown above Bolton Central library on Sunday, November 15, which is Palestinian independence day. He also requested a short civic ceremony open to people of all faiths and none.
The council meeting took place on October 7, the third anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel during which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken as hostage.
Disruption and clearing of gallery
Leader of the council Akhtar Zaman said raising the issue on October 7 ‘would be seen by many as inappropriate’. There was a peaceful protest outside the town hall before the full council meeting, with several dozen attendees showing opposition to any flying of the Palestine flag on a civic building.
The early part of the meeting, when motions were discussed on planning and pay policy, was interrupted several times by shouting from the public gallery, which is situated on an enclosed balcony above the council chamber. Mayor of Bolton, Coun Mohammed Iqbal, who was chairing the meeting, called for order on more than one occasion and said interruptions to proceedings would not be tolerated.
Around 55 minutes into the meeting, as Independent member Coun Samantha Wilson spoke during a debate about pay policy, shouts from the public gallery were once again heard. She said: “Members of this council are being abused by members of the public. It’s unacceptable and it doesn’t make me feel safe to stand up and have my say.”
The meeting was then suspended for around 25 minutes as the mayor ordered the public gallery to be cleared. Security personnel then cleared the space, with occasional shouting heard as they did so.
Question and walkout
Later in the meeting Coun Ibrahim put forward his question ‘as on the order paper’ but did not read it aloud. Other councillors had put forward questions without expanding, often to save time.
Council leader, Labour’s Akhtar Zaman, said: “You have tabled a question tonight on an issue that many people feel is contentious. The council meeting tonight, sadly marks the anniversary of the Hamas attack on October 7. I do not say that this was deliberate timing on your part, but I do say that you will be very much aware that this timing will be seen by many as inappropriate. I and the other members of this council were therefore waiting for you to speak on your question. You are refusing to do this, therefore you are not giving me nor anyone else the explanation or the context in which you are bringing this here tonight. Therefore, I do not see the reason why I should be put on centre stage on a subject that you refuse to speak on. I do not say no to your question, and I do not say yes to your question.”
He added that policy on the flying of flags on civic buildings in Bolton would be taken to an all party discussion group in the near future. As Coun Zaman spoke Coun Ibrahim repeatedly interrupted and a point of order was raised by councillor Emily Mort saying the behaviour constituted ‘disorderly conduct and disrespect to the Mayor’.
Green councillors then walked out of the chamber. They were joined by the majority of Reform UK members. Reform’s Derek Wundlerley said to the leader: “It’s disgusting when you behave like that to our communities.” Both groups who left the meeting stayed in the corridor outside the chamber for around 20 minutes before returning to vote on later agenda items.
Statement after the meeting
After the meeting a statement was issued by Bolton’s Green councillors, including Coun Ibrahim. It said: “Coun Zaman’s statement was one-sided. Where was the same compassion for Palestinian families and the thousands of innocent women and children killed. We can condemn the killing of innocent Israeli civilians and unequivocally condemn the genocide against Palestinians.”
