A London council is set to debate a motion which would see “Operation Raise the Colours” branded “far-right”.
Two Labour councillors on the Aspire Party-run Tower Hamlets Council have launched a bid to condemn the flag-raisers – as well as the “Pink Ladies”, a campaign group formed after a series of attacks by hotel migrants over the summer.
The pair – Mufeedah Bustin and Abdi Mohamed – are behind the motion to “stand up to the far-right and tackle uneven development on the Isle of Dogs”.
In it, they propose that the council hail its own “rich history of migration and diversity”, “inclusive culture” and “history of standing up to oppression and fascism”.
Mufeedah Bustin (left) and Abdi Mohamed are behind the motion to ‘stand up to the far-right and tackle uneven development on the Isle of Dogs’
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TOWER HAMLETS COUNCIL/TOWER HAMLETS LABOUR
Further on, Brexit is labelled a “far-right narrative”, and concerns over safety at a migrant hotel are accused of “becoming entwined with far-right narratives under the banner of keeping women and children safe”.
The local authority is also urged to recognise that “migrants and refugees contribute more to the UK economy than they take out”.
Meanwhile, councillors are set to debate whether “the conflation of economic crisis in the UK with increased levels of migration is factually incorrect and deliberately used by those with their own agendas to cause division in communities”.
The two councillors also noted how the Home Office placed migrants at a hotel on the Isle of Dogs over summer “without warning to the council or to residents”.
FLAG FURY – READ MORE:
Tower Hamlets saw hundreds of flags raised throughout the summer as part of ‘Operation Raise the Colours’
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PA
“Local residents have valid concerns around safety, security and equity, but in the absence of information or leadership, these concerns have been allowed to escalate and become entwined with far-right narratives under the banner of keeping women and children safe,” they said.
The council is later urged to note how “over the summer, the presence and activity of far-right and fascist groups at the Britannia Hotel in recent weeks, including individuals associated with White Vanguard, the Homeland Party, the ‘Spartans’, the English Defence League, figures linked to Tommy Robinson and convicted paedophiles”.
Cllr Bustin also works part-time for a “legal action NGO” which “defends marginalised people”.
On social media, Cllr Mohamed says he “spearheaded innovative programs such as the Somali Task Force and the Tower Hamlets Brexit Commission on behalf of the Mayor of Tower Hamlets”.
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“Additionally, I successfully managed election campaigns for Sadiq Khan for Mayor and the City & East Greater London Authority,” he adds.
Tower Hamlets became the second local authority over the summer to decry “Operation Raise the Colours”.
It vowed to remove English and British flags which had been hoisted on lampposts “as soon as possible”.
A spokesman for the Aspire Party led council said: “We are aware members of the public have been putting up St George’s flags on various structures.
“While we recognise people wish to express their views, we have a responsibility to monitor and maintain council infrastructure.
“Where flags are attached to council-owned infrastructure without permission, they may be removed as part of routine maintenance.”
Palestine flags, however, were allowed to fly for months unobstructed.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said in response: “Tower Hamlets council have allowed Palestinian flags to be publicly displayed on lampposts but not the flag of our country.
“This absurd national self-loathing must end. This is yet more two-tier bias against the British people. We must be one country united under the Union flag.”