Stratford councillor suspended for saying Zionism is ‘supremacist’ and ‘racist’

A Stratford councillor has been suspended by the Liberal Democrats over a Facebook post that political rivals say is antisemitic. 

Responding on a Conservative page from a personal account, Councillor Roger Harding (Lib Dem, Stratford Welcombe) posted: “Zionism is a supremacist, nationalist ideology. By definition, therefore, it is racist. Like apartheid or the KKK.”

It saw Cllr Harding, who serves on Stratford-on-Avon District Council and Stratford Town Council, embroil himself in a row that emanated from Warwick District Council and this week’s vote of no confidence in Green leader Ian Davison.

Mr Davison survived in the top job despite his national party’s stance that ‘Zionism is racism’ leading to the dissolution of a power-sharing pact with Labour.

Warwick District Council's Lib Dem and Labour councillors abstained – failed to vote either way – on the Conservative-led push to oust Mr Davison, prompting the Tories to allege they had “failed to stand up to antisemitism”.

While there are differing interpretations, Zionism is a movement that supports the establishment of a Jewish state in Israel. Apartheid was the method by which people from different racial groups were separated in South Africa, while the Klu Klux Klan (KKK) is a white supremacist movement dating back centuries. 

A response from the South Warwickshire Conservative Facebook page called Cllr Harding’s comparisons “outrageous and deeply troubling”, adding that “demonising the Jewish right to self-determination only fuels hostility towards Jewish communities”. 

“We should be confronting antisemitism, not giving it a platform,” its reply added.

Cllr Harding responded with: “Hundreds of Orthodox Jews march with the protestors against the Gazan genocide." 

His initial contribution was then shared by "appalled" Tories who described it as “blatant anti-Jewish hatred and outright antisemitism”.

When approached by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Cllr Harding acknowledged he had written the posts, describing them as “personal comments and personal views”.

“I am not in any way antisemitic,” he said.

“I am just fighting for the little man, people who are being shot and starved.”

District council leader Councillor Susan Juned (Lib Dem, Alcester East) confirmed she had authorised Cllr Harding’s without-prejudice suspension while the national party investigates, adding that it would be inappropriate to comment further on the process. 

She confirmed she had yet to speak to Cllr Harding due to being on council business for most of Friday (November 13) with the pre-suspension considerations handled by the executive committee of Stratford & South Warwickshire Liberal Democrats and escalated to the national party in line with procedure.

Having had Cllr Harding’s words put to her, Cllr Juned said: “He has to defend that and will have the proper processes by which to do so, or apologise.”

She reiterated she would not be part of that process but noted that she had expressed “deep concern at divisive politics, the rise of Islamophobia, antisemitism and the politics of hate on the streets and on social media” at a recent council meeting.

“The Liberal Democrats will always condemn the politics of division,” she added.

“I said that in the last council and I maintain that I do not support anything that divides us or contributes to hate or discrimination.”

Asked what action she would seek to take in light of that, Cllr Juned said it would be a matter for the national party. She was unable to offer a likely timescale for the investigation.

Councillor Sarah Whalley-Hoggins (Reform UK, Brailes & Compton) said she had found Cllr Harding's comments “deeply and profoundly upsetting”.

“I am so shocked,” she said. 

“The fact that anti-Zionism is a political matter is abhorrent, there is no place for this anywhere on this planet and I am reviled by those who seek to excuse it at any level.

“Any councillor who holds these views cannot properly represent those who elected them.”

She called on Cllr Juned to “act proactively and authoritatively”, adding: “We await what action she takes.”