Councillor flag debate sparks resignation calls

A petition calling for Pollokshields councillor David Meikle to resign has gained over 2,000 signatures following a flag raising at Glasgow City Council headquarters.

The southside councillor waved an Israeli flag at city chambers on Friday as the council raised the Palestinian flag.

GCC stated that its move showed solidarity with those affected by the conflict in Gaza.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But councillor Meikle said the decision to fly the Palestinian flag was taken without consulting councillors.

He told The Extra: “I thought flying the flag would do nothing to stop the conflict, would cause division in the city and in fact, many community leaders and residents voiced their objection.

“Flying both flags together would have been a bold statement that the only way to end this cycle of death and destruction is through balanced discourse.”

The online petition, which has gained more than 2,500 signatures, reads: “We believe his actions have been very insensitive to the majority of his constituents and Glaswegians at large.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, commenting on The Extra’s Facebook page, Dave Forrest said: “We might not like it or agree with him, but surely he has as much right to wave an Israeli flag as anyone else has to wave a Palestinian flag?”

Janette Thomson added: “No flags would have been better and this would have been avoided. Flying a flag will not save one soldier or one civilian life on either side and public officials should not assume that the people they represent want them to fly either flag.”

Responding for Glasgow City Council, depute leader and Langside councillor Archie Graham said that the decision to fly the Palestinian flag “was a gesture of humanitarian solidarity.

“The gesture, following representation to the lord provost from the mayor of our twin city of Bethlehem, was certainly not intended as an indication of support for any particular regime or movement.”