Wootton Parish Councillor Under Scrutiny Over Reported WhatsApp Messages

A Green Party councillor on Wootton Bridge Parish Council is facing scrutiny over comments reportedly made in a private WhatsApp group discussing Israel and Zionism.

Cllr Sophus Magill, who stood for the Green Party in this year's Isle of Wight Council elections, is alleged to have set up a group called ‘Greens Against Imperialism’.

The claims have been reported by The Times and The Telegraph.

Messages published by The Telegraph appear to show a discussion about whether opposition to Zionism could amount to support for violence against Jewish people.

One participant reportedly said that, while such views could be wrong, they were not necessarily racist, while another said they might want to attack members of a group if a state representing an ethnic group had destroyed their village and killed their family.

In messages attributed to Cllr Magill, he reportedly described Zionism as an “apartheidal, ethnosupremacist ideology” and said it “has to go”.

When another participant asked whether that effectively meant he wanted Israel “wiped off the map”, Cllr Magill reportedly replied: “Yes, I would like that.”

He went on to say he believed Israeli citizens who were not war criminals and who were willing to peacefully coexist with Palestinians should have the right to live in Palestine.

Cllr Magill also reportedly compared the situation to Rhodesia and said he did not consider describing an “illegitimate apartheid state” as being removed from maps to be violent.

The Green Party has told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that it does not comment on internal party forums or WhatsApp discussions which are not official party group channels.

Wootton Bridge Parish Council has distanced itself from the comments.

A spokesperson said the remarks attributed to Cllr Magill were made in a personal capacity and do not represent the views or position of the parish council or its other councillors.

The council said it was concerned by the nature and language of the reported remarks, adding that they did not reflect the “respectful and inclusive approach” expected from people representing the community.

The parish council says it has contacted the Isle of Wight Council's monitoring officer for advice and will consider any appropriate action within its remit.

Cllr Magill has been approached for comment.