Newham Council Unanimously Pledges Unity Against Hatred and Extremism

Newham Council has pledged to stand united against hatred and extremism, affirming its commitment to celebrating diversity and fostering community cohesion.

The motion, titled Newham's Diversity, was unanimously passed during a council meeting on Monday, July 13, 2026. The motion outlines specific actions the council will take, calling for it to Stand together in support of Newham's communities and uphold the borough's values of inclusion, respect and unity; Reject and oppose any and any forms of hatred, division and extremism within our borough; Work collaboratively across all political groups to promote community cohesion and respond responsibly to events that may impact residents' safety or wellbeing; Engage with local partners, community organisations, faith groups, and relevant authorities to support residents and promote unity; Encourage peaceful, lawful expression while prioritising public safety and minimising community tension. ¹

The motion was proposed by Councillor Simon Rush and seconded by Councillor Shantu Ferdous. Councillor Mehmood Mirza, Leader of the Newham Independence Group, supported the motion but called for genuine cross-party collaboration beyond mere words. He stated, However, our support comes with reservations. These values do not belong to one political party. Labour cannot claim ownership of the community cohesion or unity. If the administration is serious about the cross-party working, it must involve opposition councillors in decision-making. Throughout the year, not just ask for the unity when bringing forward a motion. Community cohesion is built through actions, not words. It requires investment in youth services, community organisations, safer neighbourhoods and opportunities that bring people together.

The council also acknowledged Newham's status as a Borough of Sanctuary, a designation that is more than a title, is a statement of our values. That everyone deserves dignity, respect and the opportunity to belong. ²

Councillor Khan spoke passionately about his personal experiences of diversity within Newham, highlighting the borough's rich tapestry of cultures and languages as a source of strength. He shared, My parents and I were born in Pakistan, but our ancestors came from Afghanistan. That journey alone reflects generations of movement, culture and resilience. My mother tongue is Pashto, so I speak Pashto. I also speak Urdu, English, Punjabi and Persian. That linguistic diversity is part of my identity and I am proud of it. He further illustrated Newham's diversity by describing his street: On my right, my neighbours are from Philippines. On my left, Bangladeshi family with beautiful children live. Next to them, neighbours from Lithuania. Across my, well, across from me, it's Margaret. And next to her, neighbours from India. I, in this room, I'm proud to say, I've got my very good friend from Ecuador and Ireland as well. This is what NIOM does. It teaches us. It connects us. It enriches us. Diversity is our strength and we love it every single day.

Councillor Rahima Rahman also spoke, emphasizing Newham's long-standing commitment to inclusion and community cohesion, stating, Our long standing commitment to inclusion and the community cohesion is not just something we speak about. It is something we demonstrate every day through our work, our partnership and the why we support our residents.