Julie Marson MP Raises Concerns about Green Councillor and East Herts District Council Chair’s ‘deplorable’ Social Media Posts on Israel and Hamas

Julie Marson, MP for Hertford and Stortford, has today written to Cllr Ben Crystall and Richard Cassidy, Leader and Chief Executive of East Herts District Council respectively, requesting them to take action after Martin Butcher, a Green Councillor who also serves as Chairman of EHDC, appeared to promote and approve of Hamas’ actions on two Twitter/X feeds. Cllr Butcher has since restricted access to his Twitter accounts.

Over the weekend, Hamas, a proscribed terrorist group, fired thousands of rockets, killing over 700 people, including British citizens, and kidnapped people in Israel before taking them to Gaza against their will.

On Twitter/X feeds, Cllr Butcher reposted several tweets, one describing Hamas’ actions as ‘a bit wild’, some seeking to draw equivalence between Hamas and Israel and even attacking Ukraine’s President Zelensky for condemning the terrorism. In her letter, Mrs Marson said that Cllr Butcher was ‘seemingly validating the actions of Hamas’.

The local MP described Cllr Butcher’s comments as deplorable and asked Cllr Crystall, the Leader of the Green Party in Hertford and Stortford and of East Herts District Council if he endorsed Cllr Butcher’s views and, if not, what steps he would be taking to censure Cllr Butcher. Mrs Marson also asked Mr Cassidy what action he will be taking to investigate any potential breach of standards.

Mrs Marson signed a cross party letter in solidarity with Israel over the terrorist attacks by Hamas.

ENDS