After a sombre start to the Full Council meeting last Thursday (November 2) when the Chair of Harlow Council asked for a minute’s silence in remembrance of the lives lost in tragic events in Pennsylvania (USA) and Leicester City last Saturday, both sides of the Chamber came together to unanimously pass a motion to formally adopt the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism. The definition was adopted in full, with all examples and without deletions or additions.

Portfolio Holder for Equalities and Diversity, Labour Cllr Laine Shears, proposed the motion with a moving speech that asked the Council to adopt the definition “because it was the right thing to do”.

Leader of the Conservative Group Cllr Andrew Johnson seconded the motion and it was accepted with a unanimous vote.

Later in the meeting, it was agreed in response to a question from the public that the annual Holocaust Memorial Day service could be held at the Civic Centre if that was the wish of the Harlow Jewish community.