Bradford crowds cheer as Jeremy Corbyn calls for Government to ‘recognise the state of Palestine’ – Bradford Telegraph and Argus

FORMER Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was cheered at a rally in Bradford as he called on the Government to "unconditionally recognise the state of Palestine."

Some have criticised Bradford Council for allowing a sizeable gathering to go ahead after not showing the Euro football final on City Park's big screen, but the Council said the rally's organisers announced the location without notifying them in advance. Discussions only took place thereafter, the Council said.

Mr Corbyn was the key speaker at the event in City Park, dubbed 'Free Palestine, no to foreign wars, no to Islamophobia', which attracted a crowd of over 100 people.The rally, organised by Bradford Stop the War Coalition, also featured a passionate speech from Bradford East MP Imran Hussain.Mr Corbyn, wearing a cream-coloured jacket,was given a large round of applause as he was introduced to the crowd.He spoke of how Bradford was the cradle of the Labour movement in this country" and that those values - such as standing up to mill owners and opposing oppression - were still important today.Turning to Palestine, he said: "I want to see peace, I want to see nationhood for the Palestinian people and I want us to have a Government - as I wanted to be the head of a Government -that would unconditionally recognise the state of Palestine."

The gathering took place at City Park, and began at around 5pm, continuingbeyond7pm.

The gathering was centred around the steps of the Magistrates' Court building.

The speaker introducing the event said Bradford always backs Palestine and "has a long history of it unlike other cities."

Mr Corbyn said: "The city of Bradford was the cradle, the first, in many ways, of the Labour movement in this country. The Independent Labour movement was founded here.

"Many of those who founded the ILP had a vision of a country that cared for each other in health, in education, in housing, the provision of libraries and learning and of opportunities for young people, who stood up against the mill owners.

"Bradford has given so much to the Labour party and the Labour movement and the world all over."

He said Bradford had a long history of opposing war and pointed out that many in the cityhad not seen the sense in British workers fighting German workers as it was essentially a war between Imperialist classes.

He continued to say: "This event is also, of course, about solidarity - solidarity with people all around the world. Much has been said about solidarity with the people of Palestine and I absolutely endorse that."

He bemoaned images of jets bombing homes in Gaza and pointed out that homes on the West Bank were being destroyed by "those who believe that settlers have a right to take over the West Bank."

"I want to see peace, I want to see nationhood for the Palestinian people and I want us to have a Government - as I wanted to be the head of a Government - that would unconditionally recognise the state of Palestine."

"The right and the racists in our society will always seek to divide us."

Richard Burgon, Labour MPfor Leeds East, told the crowd: "It's always an important occasion when we speak out against injustice. It's always an important occasion when we speak out against oppression. It's always an important occasion when we speak out against racism. It's always an important occasion when we come together united by the desire to organise, to create, a better, more peaceful, more just world."

He said "if only they had listened 20 years ago" to the Stop the War Coalition, "many lives would have been saved around the world and it would be a more peaceful place."

Mr Burgon claimed he had got cross-party support for a Bill not to sell arms to Israel.

"Palestine has a right to exist. Palestine will exist," he said.

And there were huge cheers when the introducer added: "Just imagine Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister and Richard Burgon as the deputy.

Bradford East MP Imran Hussain said Bradford had a proud history as a City of Sanctuary and would welcome refugees as "nobody chooses to face persecution."

"Nobody willingly gets on a boat with their children knowing they are almost certainly facingdeath," he told the crowd, as he thanked Bradford people for the 'friendship and welcome' it had given people in need over the years.

"Let's be clear - racism and persecution are still far too prevalent in our society. We only have to look at the football last weekend," he added, pointing out that Bradford stood in solidarity with the England footballers who received abuse after missing penalties.

He continued to say the Palestinian people "continued to face indiscriminate attacks from the Israeli Government."

The rallyhas been organised to raise awareness of the many terrible conflicts and wars which continue across the globe, and which concern so many of Bradfords residents.

These include the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank in Palestine, the war in Yemen and the conflict in Kashmir.

Stop the War has been at the forefront of protesting against wars since its foundation in 2001.

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Bradford crowds cheer as Jeremy Corbyn calls for Government to 'recognise the state of Palestine' - Bradford Telegraph and Argus