Brent Council allows controversial Nablus twinning signing to take place ‘via back door’
EXCLUSIVE: Council spokesperson claims signing ceremony at Wembley hotel was 'non-political'
Brent Council has confirmed it allowed the controversial twinning arrangement with the West Bank city of Nablus to proceed, in what a spokesperson described as a “non-political” ceremony at a hotel in the north-west London borough.
BBC London News reported on Saturday’s event, stating “the London Borough of Brent has today formally marked the beginning of its twinning relationship with the Palestinian city” during an “official ceremony” at the Nova Hotel in Wembley.
Footage from the event showed only a handful of attendees, all wearing keffiyeh scarves, as paperwork was signed—including a signature from Brent Council chief executive Kim Wright.
However, Jewish News has seen a message circulated last Friday by Brent Labour Group and council leader Muhammed Butt to councillors, which appeared to distance the authority from the event.
Butt, who has faced strong criticism from communal leaders over his handling of the twinning proposal—led by councillors and activists linked to the local Palestine Solidarity Campaign—wrote that the ceremony was “a private event organised independently by the Community Interest Company (CIC).”
He added: “The council is not organising, hosting, or funding this event, and no council resources are being deployed.”
Yet, two sources connected to the council told Jewish News they believe Butt and other council leaders allowed the twinning to go ahead “through the back door.”
Rabbi Baruch Levin, leader of Brondesbury Park Synagogue—the largest shul in the borough—previously said the proposal left Jewish residents “feeling isolated, alienated, and unsafe in the very borough they call home,” a point which “hasn’t been heard or understood” by the council’s leadership.
Petitions signed by Jews, Hindus, and residents of no faith also accused Brent of proceeding with a “divisive” and politically motivated stunt at a time of heightened tensions.
Some noted reports that Nablus is the home of militant Palestinian groups such as ‘Lions’ Den’, and that “Jewish, Christian and LGBTQ communities are unlikely to be made welcome” in the city if identified.
One peition stated:”Peace should be Brent Council’s aim for any twinning.
“Seven out of fifteen of Nablus’s Council are Hamas backed (Carter centre report), a proscribed group by the UK Government. We therefore consider that it is inconsistent with reasons for twinning.”
Additional footage posted by The Association of the Palestinian Community in the UK also showed the signing ceremony last weekend.
One participant was Ihtesham Afzal, a councillor and chair of Brent Labour Group, who has been at the forefront of the plan to twin the borough with Nablus.
Asked to comment, a Brent Council spokesperson said: “Twinning arrangements are a long-established civic tradition, used by councils across the country to promote cultural exchange and mutual understanding. There are more than 1,500 such partnerships in the UK, the vast majority focused on education, culture, and community links.
“We are acutely aware that this is a sensitive issue in the current global context. That is why the Council has been clear from the outset that any civic twinning must be strictly non-political.
“The Community Interest Company facilitating the twinning operates independently of the Council.
“However, its relationship with the Council is governed by a robust Memorandum of Understanding, which sets clear legal, equality, and safeguarding requirements, and gives the Council powers to review and monitor the arrangements closely.”
The twinning arrangement was approved by the Full Council in November 2024 and May 2025. The Memorandum of Understanding allows the Council to review or terminate the arrangement if legal, safeguarding, or cohesion concerns arise.
The Council said that as the legally required officer signatory, Chief Executive Kim Wright signed the twinning agreement on behalf of the London Borough of Brent prior to the ceremony.
The Council continues to claim that international partnerships must remain non-political and focused on cultural, educational, and community exchange.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
