Councillor still in post despite resignation announcement

A councillor remains in his post despite announcing two months ago he would resign after reposting antisemitic conspiracies on social media.

Former mayor of Bath Dr Bharat Pankhania is still on Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES), despite saying he would step down at the full meeting in July.

Pankhania resigned from the ceremonial role of mayor of Bath in March, after sharing a post from his personal account on X, which called an arson attack on ambulances run by a Jewish charity an "Israeli false flag".

Pankhania was suspended from the Liberal Democrat party following the posts. He apologised and later said he did not realise the "implied subtext".

Pankhania announced on July 16 he would resign as councillor for Combe Down after eight years.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, three councillors left the chamber as Pankhania began his resignation statement.

Two months on, with the council set to have its first meeting back after the summer recess, Pankhania remains a councillor.

Speaking in July, he said: "Like all of us I am human and capable of making mistakes and I made a mistake, a momentary error, and shared a social media message before realising its implied subtext. I am sorry I did that and I wish I hadn't.

"My action caused concern and offence. I listened, I reflected, and I accepted responsibility for my mistake. I regret the distraction that this caused to the council and to the mayoralty and I stepped back as soon as it was clear that this was the right thing to do."

When a councillor resigns, the council's proper officer must publish a formal notice that the seat is vacant. This has yet to happen for the Combe Down ward.

Pankhania and BANES have been approached for comment.

Four men have pleaded guilty to destroying four Jewish community ambulances in an arson attack in Golders Green, London, in March.

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