Council lambasted for allowing pro-Palestine activists to use its power supply

David Meehan, a Conservative council member who serves Little Lever and Darcy Lever ward, condemned the decision as "a disgrace".

The councillor accused the authority of showing greater allegiance to campaigners than local taxpayers, questioning the appropriateness of using public infrastructure for the event.

In a social media statement, he said: "Bolton Council is supposed to represent all communities — not play favourites. Instead, the Labour-run council looks more loyal to activists than to residents."

The councillor added: "This was a shocking failure of judgment, leadership, and duty."

His social media statement raised concerns about the allocation of municipal resources and suggested the council had disregarded official advice against demonstrations.

He questioned whether residents could trust Bolton Council to act impartially.

The gathering, titled 'Know Their Names', involved participants reciting the identities of minors who have died in the Gaza conflict, with event coordinators reporting that over 18,000 young lives have been lost in the area since hostilities began.

Bolton Council maintained that the Saturday assembly did not constitute a demonstration.

It noted the absence of banners and political addresses during the proceedings.

A Bolton council spokesman said the authority has "an obligation to facilitate reasonable requests to hold events in public spaces".

The gathering was moved beneath the town hall's covered entrance area after meteorological warnings about Storm Amy prompted safety considerations, according to the spokesperson.

They added: "All groups are welcome to apply to use Victoria Square and can also request the use of an electricity connection.

"We were approached by the organisers of an event called ‘Know Their Names’, a vigil marking two years since the start of the Gaza conflict."

The spokesman argued that the event was not a political protest or demonstration, but saw a small number of volunteers reading the names of children killed since October 2023.

They added: "This use of public space was agreed weeks in advance, well before the tragic events in Manchester last week.

"The event was subsequently relocated to under the town hall’s portico due to health and safety concerns following forecasts of adverse weather from Storm Amy.

"We note the Government’s request that groups cancel any planned protests over the weekend.

"However, as the organisers of Saturday’s vigil made clear it was not a protest, they opted to go ahead as planned."