A Renfrewshire councillor has said Renfrewshire Council need to “urgently listen” to the opinion of local people who have voiced their opposition to the Palestinian flag being flown above public buildings in the area.
John Gray, a Scottish Conservatives councillor for Renfrew North and Braehead has spoken out after over 2,200 people signed a petition in recent weeks calling for it to be removed from Renfrewshire House, the headquarters of Renfrewshire Council, in Paisley, Renfrew Town Hall and in Houstoun Square in Johnstone.
He says that the decision by Renfrewshire Council – while well-intentioned – has led to the “wrong message” being sent to Jewish residents living locally.
However, fellow Renfrewshire Councillor, Kenny Maclaren claim Mr Grey and his colleagues ‘voted against the move and made lame excuses to justify the killings committed by the Israeli state.’
Councillors voted to fly the flag across Renfrewshire to show solidarity with the plight of innocent civilians in war-torn Gaza.
The motion, moved by Councillor Eddie Devine in May, was seconded by Andy Doig.
The Ukrainian flag has been on display for more than two years following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Palestinian flags will be up for two weeks then it will be swapped with the Ukrainian flag. This process repeats every two weeks.
Renfrew North and Braehead Councillor John Gray said: “While this move by Renfrewshire Council was well-intentioned, it has sent out the wrong message.
“Like everyone else, I have been appalled by the scenes of innocent civilians being caught up in the conflict and I cannot imagine what they are going through.
“However, at a local level I believe people have made their feelings known on these flags being flown at public buildings in Renfrewshire. Over 2,000 people have signed a petition in a matter of weeks asking for their removal.
“I have also been inundated with concerns by constituents in my own area and these people cannot be ignored.
“People living and working in Renfrewshire want this SNP-led council to be focused on their real priorities like fixing our roads, restoring standards in our schools and keeping day-to-day services open. Instead, they have preferred to engage in gesture politics.”
Kenny Maclaren, SNP Paisley Northwest councillor, said: “Renfrewshire Council had a full debate on this issue and the majority vote was to show support for all the civilians in Palestine and elsewhere who are being murdered. Mr Grey and his Tory colleagues voted against this move and made lame excuses to justify the killings committed by the Israeli state.
“I will take no lessons from a Tory who’s government – along with the new Labour government – broke international law by arming the Israeli state which is bombing hospitals, schools and refugee camps.
“The International Court of Justice is already investigating the Israeli state for war crimes and the latest terrorism by Israel in planting explosives in pagers and walkie talkies opens up a new front on international terrorism.”
Mr Maclaren added: “I’ve had more constituents contact me supporting the Palestine flag than those who oppose it. Flying the Palestinian flag to show our support for the people of Palestine who have been under occupation since 1948 is the least we can do.
“I look forward to the day when the Israeli leaders and key supporters like Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer face an international court for their war crimes and for arming Israel to continue their war crimes.”
A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “Any petitions received by the Council are referred to the Petitions Board.”
You can find the petition featured in this article, here: https://www.change.org/p/demand-renfrewshire-council-to-stop-displaying-the-palestinian-flag-on-public-buildings.
Headline photo Credit: Paisley for Palestine