Labour’s majority at City Hall reduced with resignation of councillor

A Labour councillor suspended from the party last year for social media comments about Jewish people is standing down due to long-term ill-health.

Brislington West member Harriet Bradley is quitting her role on Bristol City Council with effect from July 1 after shielding since lockdown.

She had been reinstated to the party following an investigation into a post on her Facebook page with the message: “The right kind of Jews – ie left voters.”

Her resignation means Labour’s majority in the chamber will be cut to just two – 35 members to 34 opposition councillors, plus Labour mayor Marvin Rees who has a vote during full council meetings.

No by-election will be held until at least May 2021 because of the Covid-19 emergency.

Announcing her decision, Cllr Bradley said: “Coronavirus is the worst pandemic for a century. The crisis it has caused has highlighted much, including our inspirational key workers, but has also made us all reevaluate.

“After shielding for the last three months because of long-term health issues, I have come to the difficult decision to step away from politics.

“With all the constraints caused by national government cuts to council funding, it has been challenging at times to help constituents – but I want to thank the people of Brislington West again for putting their trust in me and the Labour Party.

“It has been an immense privilege to serve them and I shall miss meeting up with so many wonderful people.

“I would especially like to thank Brislington Labour Party branch, a great bunch of folk.”

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Read more: Bristol Labour councillor suspended for antisemitism

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Bristol Labour group leader, Marg Hickman, said that “now more than ever, it’s obvious that our health is the most important thing”.

She said: “While we are sad to see Harriet go like this, we of course understand that she must put her wellbeing first.

“We thank her for being part of a Labour administration which has protected Wick Road library and other public services.”

Bradley was suspended from the Labour Party days before the general election in December 2019 after sharing a post on her Facebook page with the message: “The right kind of Jews – ie left voters.”

The post, from Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL), showed two elderly men holding JVL signs, one of which read “Jews for Jeremy”.

She shared it on November 27, appearing to add the “right kind of Jews” phrase at the top. It has since been deleted from her Facebook page.

Bristol’s mayor Marvin Rees said at the time: “Cllr Bradley’s comments do not at all reflect the views and values of our Labour administration. We have a zero tolerance policy on antisemitism.

Before entering politics, Cllr Bradley served as emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Bristol. She later joined UWE Bristol as a professor of women’s employment.

Bradley was elected onto the city council in May 2016. The other Brislington West ward councillor is Lib Dem Jos Clark, the current lord mayor.

Under emergency coronavirus legislation, by-elections are not permitted before May next year. The local elections, in which all 70 city council seats and the position of mayor were up for grabs, were scheduled for last month but were postponed until 2021 because of the pandemic.

Main photo: Bristol City Council. Adam Postans is a local democracy reporter for Bristol

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