Council leader’s column: Unity must prevail as we reject hatred and stand together in remembrance

Rochdale’s council leader has issued a powerful call for unity and remembrance, condemning hate-fuelled division following an antisemitic terror attack and controversial political protests in Heywood.

When I became leader of the council in 2021, I spoke about our shared values of tolerance unity and understanding, that have been always been at the heart of our borough, where people from across the community embrace the spirit of togetherness. There always has been, and always will be, more that unites than divides us.  That is why those that seek to sow division, hatred, and intolerance should be called out for what they are. In recent weeks we have seen tragic examples of people attempting to divide our community.  Those that seek to destroy the bonds of love, with an agenda of hate, should not and will not succeed.

The terrorist attack on a synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, was a sickening, barbaric act.  As I, along with the leaders of other Greater Manchester councils, said at the time this was a cowardly attack on a community at prayer, going against everything we stand for as a city region. My thoughts continue to be with all those affected by this horrific antisemitic attack, especially the families of those who tragicially died and those that were injured. I know this is a time of sorrow and fear for our Jewish friends and neighbours. As leader of Rochdale Council, I will always stand with you, as you grieve, and continue to offer my full support and love. This was an horrific attack on people marking the holiest day of the Jewish year. Councils across the Greater Manchester area, the emergency services and community leaders are working tirelessly to keep us all safe, engaging with residents across the community and to ensure effective community cohesion is the priority.

We will never stand aside when one of our communities is attacked, nor will we let acts designed to cause hatred pull us apart. Our greatest strength as a borough and a wider city region has always been that we know we are stronger together. Now is a time to look out for each other, to check in on each other and to continue to stand as one, as we always have and always will. It is also absolutely imperative that those in leadership positions, elected representatives, community leaders and trusted voices use their language carefully. Words matter and, sadly, some people, for their own opportunistic reasons, have chosen recent weeks to try and divide, when we should be uniting, and tried to pull people apart, at a time when we should be coming together.

That is why, at the recent full council meeting at Rochdale Town Hall, I called out some of the recent scenes in Heywood, where we have seen a small minority of people trying to sow division and, sadly, an elected member of this council, representing the Reform party, at the forefront of attempts to put the politics of fear and hate at the top of the political agenda.

At a march through Heywood, led by the Reform councillor and, equally appallingly, a former leader of Rochdale Council, we saw a brazen attempt to whip up hatred. For an elected representative of this council, representing the Reform party, to clap while at a gathering, where someone suggested people could take the law in to their own hands, is absolutely disgraceful.  That is why I stood up to condemn those scenes at the council meeting. I will continue to speak out against that kind of reprehensible behaviour if it continues. It simply should never be allowed to succeed.

There is no better way, no greater opportunity, to come together than at our Remembrance Sunday services across the borough. On Sunday 9 November, the community will gather at local war memorials to pay their respects to our fallen heroes. We all owe a great deal of gratitude to those who fought to protect our liberty, freedoms and values. Our borough will always have a lasting association with and deep appreciation of the Armed Forces and I am proud of the work we do to support those who served. The council supports all members of our Armed Forces community, young and old. We will always be there for them and their families. That’s why the services on 9 November mean so much, to so many, as different generations, those of all faiths and those of none. The day will show our borough at its tolerant best. Service details can be found at www.rochdale.gov.uk/events

Let’s come together, united as one, to reflect and remember. Lest we forget.