As a proud citizen and former Mayor, I have always fervently defended my home city of Birmingham and the wider West Midlands. I have defended the strength of our integration, our long record of tolerance, and our proud diversity in the face of political point-scoring and baseless attacks.
But there is no defending the shameful decision that has been taken to ban Maccabi Tel-Aviv football fans from attending Villa Park to watch their team play in the Europa League. Whilst acknowledging the legitimate safety considerations for a large football match, this decision goes way beyond that.
Our city – which prides itself on being a melting pot – has effectively told some in society that they are not welcome and can’t be kept be safe because of their nationality and religion. Not only is that the total opposite of what our welcoming and open city stands for, it also contradicts basic human freedoms.
Since the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East there have been many protests on the streets of Birmingham, speaking against the atrocities in Gaza and the deadly impact on citizens. Those protests have rightly been allowed to take place, and thanks to strong, effective policing have largely been peaceful. At no stage have West Midlands Police or the Labour-run city council told these protestors – or in fact any of Birmingham’s many vibrant communities – that they can’t be kept safe because of religious beliefs or nationality.
Indeed in Britain rights of freedom have always been bestowed regardless of faith. That is not a pick-and-choose approach which allows us to duck difficult decisions, it is a universal principle that applies to all groups and communities without exception. So we cannot now deny that basic right to a certain religious group and say they can’t be kept safe when expressing their freedoms. It is simply wrong as the Prime Minister has said, and anyone defending or even celebrating this decision is not a true Brummie or Brit.
Although finding a solution may not be my job anymore – that falls to a Labour Mayor and a Labour Police and Crime Commissioner – I have privately asked the Chief Constable to reconsider. I now repeat that call publicly. Division cannot be allowed to win.
