Mick Hartley

More on that new Hackney mayor, from the JC:

It is the borough that is home to Europe’s largest community of Orthodox Jews, the 30,000 Charedim of Stamford Hill.

But as Hackney today saw a Green Party which has adopted a stridently anti-Israel position take power, some Jewish residents fear a “rough few years” ahead.

In her victory speech, Zoe Garbett was quick to appeal to her base, claiming that her win was thanks to voters who are “sick of politicians… supporting genocide”.

As the party also took control of the council, this was a landmark political moment for a borough where Labour has held power since 2002.

One local Jewish woman, Zahava told the JC: “The new mayor Zoë Garbett has said she’s not happy with the way the police have dealt with the right to protest about ‘genocide in Gaza’.

“I worry a lot about what happens next. Most people around me sadly have their heads in the sand. I do feel we are in for a rough few years now.”

In October, as a councillor, Garbett caused uproar at a council meeting when in supporting a motion to cut ties with Israel she said: “I want to be really clear what we are talking about… a genocide, apartheid, a system of oppression and domination against the Palestinian people.”

At its autumn conference, the Green party is expected to consider a motion equating Zionism with racism.

It’s not looking good.