Edinburgh Conservatives are tabling a motion at the August Full Council meeting (21 August) in light of
the proposal by a Green councillor to fly the Palestinian flag above the City
Chambers and the proposal of the Council leader to weigh in to the complex
political situation in the Middle East in a partisan way. More
positively, the leader of the Council is proposing that a flag should fly from
the City Chambers advertising a telephone number for the Disasters Emergency
Committee appeal.
Conservatives on Edinburgh Council believe that, in the
light of intense suffering in Syria, Iraq, South Sudan and Ukraine, as well as
Gaza that humanitarian leadership should be more even handed. Edinburgh
already has an established relationship with Mercy Corps, a relief agency working
in most of these hotspots of suffering and Edinburgh Conservatives believe the
Council should encourage support for humanitarian relief in all these areas.
The motion notes:
1. the
appalling suffering in Syria, Iraq, South Sudan and Ukraine as well as Gaza
2. recognises
the desire of many in Edinburgh to contribute to the relief of such suffering
3. notes
that Edinburgh already has strong links with Mercy Corps (which has its
European Headquarters in Sciennes, Edinburgh)
4. resolves
to fly an appeal flag and encourage donations to a range of crisis relief
hotspots and not just Gaza
Conservative group leader Cameron Rose has noted the following:
·
The suffering of refugees and bereaved families
in a range of current crisis hotspots is enormous and cannot help but move
people to human compassion.
·
I believe Edinburgh people expect their
councillors to reflect and engage local concerns rather than spend their time
and energy on international partisan political posturing.
·
I deplore the intimidation and bullying
demonstrations on the streets of Edinburg which led to the silencing of one
particular theatre group at the Festival Fringe last month. Freedom of
speech is precious in this country but there is a difference between freedom to
express views and intimidation and bullying.
·
The reported proposal from a SNP councillor to
rename the street where the US Consulate in Edinburgh is situated as the ‘State
of Palestine Terrace’ is a sad reflection of partisan and blinkered nature of
some Edinburgh councillors. It comes after a Green councillor proposed
flying a Palestinian flag from the City Chambers. I share genuine
concerns for suffering in Gaza. But the focus on what has long been an
international political campaign of the far left – when there is
such acute suffering in Syria, Iraq, South Sudan and Ukraine is one sided.
The focus of our civilised society and councillors is better directed
towards humanitarian help for hard pressed refugees and those suffering from
conflict.