Greens confirm ‘formal complaint’ made against Hertsmere election candidate
Joan Bridget Collins - a former pro-Corbyn Labour member - is standing for the Greens in the Potters Bar Oakmere ward
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
The Green Party have confirmed a “formal complaint” has been raised about a candidate standing for them in Hertsmere at next month’s local elections after they were alerted to historic social media posts said to be a “cause for concern”.
Joan Bridget Collins is confirmed as the Green candidate in the borough’s Potters Bar Oakmere ward at the May 4th poll in which every borough council seat is up for election.
Her Twitter biog confirms that she had previously been a Labour Party member and supporter of Jeremy Corbyn and still features the hashtag “CorbynWasRight IStandWithCorbyn”.
But tweets shown to Jewish News, and posted on the @JoannieCo account, appear to include two references to “black people” and the “race card”. But the full context of the posts is unclear.
In another post, Collins retweets an article headlined “Trump’s immigration ban was clumsy but he’s right about radical Islam.”
Meanwhile in a further tweet, Collins reposts an article from the notorious pro-Corbyn website The Canary, in which the headline reads: “Western media outlets are ignoring Israel’s latest ‘ruthless display of force'”.
A spokesperson for the Greens confirmed to Jewish News:”“Our attention has been drawn to four tweets from 2010 to 2017 that are cause for concern. The matter has been raised as a formal complaint and will be dealt with via our disciplinary process.”
Jewish News has contacted Collins for an explanation of the posts, but she has yet to respond.
Last month the Jewish Labour Movement wrote to the co-leaders of the Green Party raising concerns about antisemitism.
A letter, signed by JLM’s national chair Mike Katz, and national secretary Adam Langleben, highlights the conduct on social media of an elected Greens councillor in the city of Norwich.
It also raised further concerns about councillors expelled by Labour now being admitted into the Green Party despite them being caught up in claims around antisemitism.
It is understood that the Greens have yet to respond to the letter.
Local elections take place in more than 8000 seats across the country next month. Alongside Hertsmere, with its sizeable Jewish population, the community in Bury, Leeds, and elsewhere in Manchester will be among those asked to cast votes.
While there are not elections in London, the poll will be give a good idea of the political landscape ahead of general election expected next year.
Hertsmere Borough Council – which covers Borehamwood, Bushey, Potters Bar and Radlett – is currently controlled by the Conservative Group, with 28 councillors. The Labour Group is the largest party in opposition, with seven authority members.
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