Jewish leaders warn of Green candidates’ views as eco warriors spout hate for Israel, but love Putin
Jewish leaders warned on Friday that the Greens were putting forward candidates with views that ‘have no place in British politics’.
Former doctor Philip Brookes claimed victims of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks on Israel were ‘not innocent’, while Tony Gair defended Vladimir Putin and spread pro-Kremlin conspiracy theories.
The Greens have struggled to vet more than 4,500 candidates for council elections on May 7.
Dr Brookes wrote on Facebook that those who “steal from someone else’s home” are not “civilians”. And you are definitely not “innocent”.
The Manor Park candidate in Newcastle took office on the second anniversary of the attacks.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said: ‘Anyone who shares and likes hateful and threatening posts against Jews has no place in British politics.’
A person in the crowd holds a banner reading “Vote Green” at the Lewisham Green Party’s ‘Big Day Out’ event
Dr Brookes’ comments were later deleted. Mr Gair, from Bede, South Tyneside, condemned the overthrow of Ukraine’s pro-Russian government in September 2014.
He also claimed that Russian asylum seeker Sergei Skripal, whom Russia tried to poison in Salisbury in March 2018, was actually targeted by then-prime minister Theresa May to cover up claims that Brexit had failed.
The Green Party said the views expressed by Dr Brookes and Mr Gair did not reflect its policy.
