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Western Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Tributes paid to Green Party pioneer John Marjoram after his death aged 86
John Marjoram was elected in 1986, a year after the Green Party had been formed, and was a councillor at town and district level for 35 years until he stepped down in 2021. Mr Marjoram, from Stroud in Gloucestershire, died on Saturday after a long illness. He held the record as the longest continuously serving Green Party councillor. John Marjoram, who has died aged 86, with Cate James-Hodges who is the newest-elected councillor on Stroud District Council (Stroud District Green Party/PA) An environmentalist, Quaker and pacifist, Mr Marjoram was a co-founder of the Stroud Green Party in 1985 and was elected to the district council the following year. As well as district councillor, Mr Marjoram was elected to the town council when it was formed in 1990, before becoming the UK's first Green Party mayor. He grew up in rural Essex and developed an early interest in politics during dinner table debates with his staunch Labour father and Conservative-voting mother. When he was called up for national service he cited his pacifist beliefs, and remained in an administrative role while others in his intake went to Malaysia to fight the Communists. In 1968 he moved to Stroud with his young family, drawn there by his affiliation with the Quakers, who had a strong presence in the town. Life-long pacifist Mr Marjoram seen addressing a Stop the War rally (Stroud District Green Party/PA) Catherine Braun, Green Party councillor and leader of Stroud District Council, said: 'It was John who persuaded me to stand as a paper candidate, before I was eventually elected to Stroud District Council. 'He was such an influential and inspirational activist, not just to us here in Stroud district but across the whole Green movement. He will be much missed.' Martin Baxendale, a district councillor in Stroud, said: 'John's first election leaflet for Stroud District Council in the 1980s inspired me. 'I read it, phoned him, and within half an hour he was on my doorstep talking me into joining the Green Party and standing for election to work alongside him.' As a young boy Mr Marjoram developed a love of politics from debating his parents at the dinner table (Stroud District Green Party/PA) Jonathan Edmunds added: 'John was an amazing man who inspired so many people into the Green Party and peace movement. 'A real maverick, they certainly don't make them like John any more. 'He was so passionate about politics but also cared deeply for all people and the planet. 'Stroud will be a lot quieter without him but he has certainly left a great legacy and it is for all of us to continue his work.'
South Wales Argus
19-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Tributes paid to Green Party pioneer John Marjoram after his death aged 86
John Marjoram was elected in 1986, a year after the Green Party had been formed, and was a councillor at town and district level for 35 years until he stepped down in 2021. Mr Marjoram, from Stroud in Gloucestershire, died on Saturday after a long illness. He held the record as the longest continuously serving Green Party councillor. John Marjoram, who has died aged 86, with Cate James-Hodges who is the newest-elected councillor on Stroud District Council (Stroud District Green Party/PA) An environmentalist, Quaker and pacifist, Mr Marjoram was a co-founder of the Stroud Green Party in 1985 and was elected to the district council the following year. As well as district councillor, Mr Marjoram was elected to the town council when it was formed in 1990, before becoming the UK's first Green Party mayor. He grew up in rural Essex and developed an early interest in politics during dinner table debates with his staunch Labour father and Conservative-voting mother. When he was called up for national service he cited his pacifist beliefs, and remained in an administrative role while others in his intake went to Malaysia to fight the Communists. In 1968 he moved to Stroud with his young family, drawn there by his affiliation with the Quakers, who had a strong presence in the town. Life-long pacifist Mr Marjoram seen addressing a Stop the War rally (Stroud District Green Party/PA) Catherine Braun, Green Party councillor and leader of Stroud District Council, said: 'It was John who persuaded me to stand as a paper candidate, before I was eventually elected to Stroud District Council. 'He was such an influential and inspirational activist, not just to us here in Stroud district but across the whole Green movement. He will be much missed.' Martin Baxendale, a district councillor in Stroud, said: 'John's first election leaflet for Stroud District Council in the 1980s inspired me. 'I read it, phoned him, and within half an hour he was on my doorstep talking me into joining the Green Party and standing for election to work alongside him.' As a young boy Mr Marjoram developed a love of politics from debating his parents at the dinner table (Stroud District Green Party/PA) Jonathan Edmunds added: 'John was an amazing man who inspired so many people into the Green Party and peace movement. 'A real maverick, they certainly don't make them like John any more. 'He was so passionate about politics but also cared deeply for all people and the planet. 'Stroud will be a lot quieter without him but he has certainly left a great legacy and it is for all of us to continue his work.'
Middle East Eye
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Half a million march to Downing Street to urge Starmer to cut ties with Israel
An estimated 600,000 people marched through central London to Downing Street on Saturday to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the Nakba. The demonstration began at Embankment before passing Big Ben, crossing the river to Waterloo and ending up outside Downing Street. It was organised by the Palestine Solidarity Compaign, Friends of Al-Aqsa, the Muslim Association of Britain, Stop the War, the Palestinian Forum in Britain and other pro-Palestine groups. Protesters came from around the country, including from Wales and northern England. Stop the War said the demonstration was attended by an estimated 600,000 people, making it the biggest since November 2023. Protestors march through Westminster in central London (Middle East Eye) New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The Palestine Solidarity Campaign said the march was intended to "mark the 77th anniversary of the 1948 Nakba and demand our government take action to end the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their land". The Nakba, or catastrophe, refers to the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by Zionist militias to make way for the creation of Israel in 1948. Small counter-protest A small contingent of pro-Israel protestors stood on the Strand at the north end of Waterloo Bridge, chanting: "Terror supporters off our streets". Indian flags were seen being waved alongside Israeli flags. Outside Downing Street, the pro-Palestine marchers heard from several speakers, including MP Apsana Begum, Palestinian ambassador Hussam Zumlot and historian William Dalrymple. British actor Khalid Abdalla holds a key symbolising the Palestinian right of return (Middle East Eye) Saturday's protest came as Israel continues its blockade on Gaza, now on day 77. Bombings have increased in the past week and the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 53,000 since 7 October 2023. During the Nakba in 1948, Zionist forces killed thousands of Palestinians, destroyed hundreds of villages and forcibly expelled 80 percent of the Palestinian population from their homeland. After more than a year of relentless violence, the newly created State of Israel captured 78 percent of historic Palestine. The remaining 22 percent, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, were occupied by Israel 19 years later and remain under Israeli military rule.
The National
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Keir Starmer offers weak statement on Israel's ethnic cleansing plan
On Monday, Israeli cabinet ministers approved the plan hours after the country's military chief said the army was calling up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers. The move would vastly expand Israel's operations in the Palestinian territory and has been fiercely condemned by international opposition, including Scotland's First Minister, John Swinney, stressing there must be 'no illegal occupation of Gaza'. However, the UK Government released a short statement after Starmer spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday evening, which read: 'Discussing the situation in Gaza, both expressed their deep concern at recent developments and agreed a renewed peace process was required.' READ MORE: Welsh Labour leader to criticise Keir Starmer welfare cuts in major speech Earlier on Monday, the Foreign Office also said that the UK 'does not support an expansion of Israel's military operations in Gaza' after the Tel Aviv government approved plans to seize the territory. The UK Government's lack of condemnation of the Israeli Government's plans to seize Gaza has been condemned by the SNP's Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, who has called for Starmer to recognise the state of Palestine in response to the plan. He said: 'The real question now is just how much more suffering the people of Gaza have to bear before the UK Government and the international community finally act. 'One of the first responses the UK Government can and should now take is to finally recognise the state of Palestine – including the entirety of the Gaza strip – in an effort to prevent this illegal Israeli land grab. That should be swiftly followed by stopping arms sales.' Director of the Centre for UN Studies, Mark Seddon, has also called for the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, to 'finally act'. He wrote online: 'All of this is in complete contempt & contravention of international law. Starmer & Lammy are former international lawyers. 'They know this to be the case. They have to, finally, act.' Meanwhile, the campaign group Stop the War said: 'It's not a new offensive, it's yet more war crime. 'When will Keir Starmer and David Lammy call it out as such?' (Image: Michael Boyd/ PA Wire) Swinney also called out Israel's use of weaponising hunger in Gaza as he called for the more than 60-day blockade of aid to be lifted. He said on Twitter/X: 'There must be no illegal occupation of Gaza. These reports would lead to more deaths across the region. 'The people of Gaza are being starved of food, water, and humanitarian aid. The world needs to enable lasting peace with a sovereign Palestine in a two-state solution.' Israel's plan would also push hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to southern Gaza, which would likely exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis. Since Israel breached the ceasefire agreement in mid-March, it has unleashed fierce strikes on the territory that have killed hundreds. It has captured swathes of territory and now controls roughly 50% of Gaza. Israel had already halted all humanitarian aid into Gaza, including food, fuel, and water, setting off what is believed to be the worst humanitarian crisis in nearly 19 months of Israeli attack. The Israeli officials said the new plan included the 'capturing of the strip and the holding of territories'. The plan would also seek to prevent the militant Hamas group from distributing humanitarian aid, which Israel says strengthens the group's rule in Gaza. The officials said Israel was in touch with several countries about President Donald Trump's plan to take over Gaza and relocate its population, under what Israel has termed 'voluntary emigration', yet which has sparked condemnations from Israel's allies in Europe and the Arab world.
Middle East Eye
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Police to question Muslim Association of Britain chair over Palestine solidarity protest
The Metropolitan Police has summoned one of the key organisers of the UK's Palestine solidarity protests over an alleged public order breach that took place at a rally earlier this year. Raghad Altikriti, who chairs the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), told Middle East Eye that she received a letter from the police requesting she attend a formal interview on Wednesday over a protest held in London on 18 January. Altikriti is one of several individuals who have been summoned by police over alleged public order offences. Letters were also issued to Stop the War coalition officers Lindsey German, Alex Kenny and Andrew Murray, and Friends of Al-Aqsa chair Ismail Patel. Altikriti described the upcoming police interview as an "act of intimidation" and claimed it was aimed at "making it difficult for people to speak out against this genocide." "We have a right to protest and it's important to defend our freedom to mobilise and speak up," she said. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters During the January protest, police banned protesters from gathering outside the BBC's Broadcasting House because of its close proximity to a synagogue. Police arrested the march's chief steward, Chris Nineham, and charged him with two counts of breaking the Public Order Act. Ben Jamal, the director of the UK-based Palestine Solidarity Campaign, was also among those arrested. Both pleaded not guilty to allegedly breaking the Public Order Act. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said it was unable to confirm the identity of individuals being investigated. "As part of our ongoing investigation into alleged breaches of Public Order Act conditions on Saturday, 18 January we have invited a further eight people to be interviewed under caution at a police station," the spokesperson told MEE. "While we are aware of names being attributed to those who have been invited for interview, we do not confirm the identity of anyone under investigation." Criticism of protest policing At the time, police accused demonstrators of breaking through a police cordon in Trafalgar Square, a claim that organisers and protestors, including prominent politicians, strongly denied. Metropolitan Police faces fresh questions over crackdown on pro-Palestine protest Read More » Other individuals that were summoned included British-Egyptian actor Khalid Abdalla, 87-year-old Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and former Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer John McDonnell. Following the protest, more than 50 MPs and members of the House of Lords called on the government to order an investigation into the policing of the January protest. They said they were "deeply troubled" by obstacles put in place by the police ahead of the demonstration, and "aghast" at comments made by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley in which he said his force had "imposed unprecedented restrictions" on the protest. Signatories include Labour MPs Diane Abbott, Clive Lewis and Ian Lavery; Green MPs Sian Berry and Carla Denyer; and independent MPs, among them Zarah Sultana, Shockat Adam, Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain and Imran Hussain. At the time, Green Party deputy leader Zack Polanski, a speaker at the rally, told MEE that the police's handling of the protest was a "shambles", adding that he "and thousands of others have been smeared by claims that we forced our way through" the police cordon.
