30/03/2026
Political leaders past their sell by date – rot from the top
Last week the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, grandstanded about his party not seeking to divide communities; unlike others, he nobly claimed. Yet in the same week, residents of Bath experienced local government behaviour and hypocrisy at their lowest; a recurring theme many might sadly argue.
The role of Bath’s Mayor is an apolitical post. As a public figure representing the city, the current Mayor’s repeated amplification of content that casts suspicion on a UK minority community, after a heinous and potentially murderous hate crime, does raise legitimate questions about impartiality and unifying community leadership.
And it isn’t the first time - As a Lib Deb Councillor, Dr. Bharat Pankhania has a track record, sadly extended into his time as Mayor. A previous post referred to the death of Charlie Kirk as a ‘right wing conspiracy’, an unacceptable weaponisation of an assassination and family tragedy. We complained quietly at the time, as his role is not Party political - He was nonetheless warned!
These specific and now continuing re-posts, however, do cross a line. It treated a murder or an antisemitic arson attack on a Jewish volunteer emergency service as an opportunity to question the legitimacy or motives of the whole Jewish community, rather than condemning the crime.
This goes beyond Cllr Pankhania’s established anti-Israeli Government stance and enters territory that many would reasonably describe as biased against Jewish communities, specifically UK ones. As a doctor, his peddling conspiracies about British Jewish-funded ambulances that were for general use is the most shocking. He may have his reasons to dislike the USA, Israel and other nations, but when someone who is a local leader, Doctor and Councillor starts peddling conspiracy theories against the London Hatzolah community ambulances, he surely reveals he’s not fit to represent Bath, never mind safely treat or advise all his patients.
Yet how widespread is this rot? It is sadly the environment the Lib Dem’s have seemingly fostered in Bath. What’s fascinating is the rest of the mayor’s feed, and it’s for an investigative journalist to explore this, and not for us to expand on here – The only conclusion that is abundantly clear, is that this is far more than Left versus Right.
If these views are flaunted by a Dr./ Mayor/Councillor in genteel Bath however, you do have to wonder what else is going on in the city. Reinstating Dr. Pankhania with only “training” as punishment would signal that antisemitic conspiracy theories are treated by the Lib Dems as minor gaffes, not serious disqualifiers for public office. It furthers the view of an increasing number that their approach is for the few and not the many - or all.
It tells the Jewish community and the public that in Bath and North East Somerset, spreading false flags about attacks on Jewish ambulances only warrants an apology and a workshop, nothing more.
Bath’s ceremonial mayor role is meant to unify and represent the city with dignity; this response prioritises Lib Dem convenience over the city’s worldwide reputation as a UNESCO heritage site and moreover, our long-term safety and desire to not polarise our communities. The signal to other BANES Lib Dem activists/ politicians seems clear: Test and push boundaries with inflammatory content, delete, apologise, “train” and resume—low deterrence, high Lib Dem tolerance for bigotry. Ed Davey may wish to revisit his rhetoric and his culture.
Ultimately, it broadcasts that Bath civic standards bend when inconvenient to the local Liberal Democrat Party. Something we have incidentally seen in their Liveable Neighbourhood’s policy implementation that have divided communities, but this is far, far worse.
Imagine what they would say if this was a mayor from another party? Shock, horror and outrage from the moral, noble grandstanders of virtue, people, planet and progressivism. More pint-sized, a sad indictment and pervasive infusion of one rule for us and another for the many.
Too many people will likely and very sadly fear of their safety and acceptance. Most fair and sensible folk would surely seek a robust clear-out of this type of hypocrisy and divisive vitriol from those that run our city.
Did someone say service before self? We should be a haven of tolerance and a city of joy, not one jinxed and jolted by such division.
Further questions remain, especially for Mayor Pankhania, yet one that appears urgent and apposite:
What is the response of Lib Dem Council Leader, Kevin Guy, or Liberal Democrat MP, Wera Hobhouse?’ Or, indeed, National Party Leader Ed Davey, he of Post Office enquiry fame and latter promoter of undivided communities under his leadership.
It certainly looks like it’s time for root and branch change, a political clean-up (ethics review?) and more than just getting your Hob-horse House in order; one based in integrity, ethics and values - not virtue signalling and lack-lustre leadership.
The view from the top may be enjoyable and enhance the ego, yet the foundations need to be reliable, consistent and firm for the tenure to be secure.
Bath Conservative Party
