Dr. Bharat Pankhania, former Mayor of Bath, has announced his resignation as a councillor after facing backlash for sharing a controversial social media post. The post in question, shared three months ago on X (formerly Twitter), suggested that an arson attack on ambulances operated by a Jewish charity was an “Israeli false flag” and insinuated the incident might be insurance fraud.
Following the controversy, Dr. Pankhania stepped down from his mayoral duties in March and has now decided to leave his role as a councillor representing Combe Down, a position he has held since 2019. Speaking at a meeting of Bath and North East Somerset Council, he explained, “This has not been an easy decision, but I need to give greater priority to my health and wellbeing.”
Reflecting on his actions, Dr. Pankhania stated, “Like all of us, I am human and capable of making mistakes. I made a momentary error in judgment by sharing a social media message before fully understanding its implications. I deeply regret this and apologize for the offense and concern it caused.” He expressed remorse for the distraction his actions created within the council and the mayoralty, adding, “I stepped back as soon as it was clear that this was the right course of action.”
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During his statement, three councillors left the chamber in protest. Dr. Pankhania served as Bath’s 798th mayor—a largely ceremonial position that rotates annually—and is the first to resign from this role since 1937. He was affiliated with the Liberal Democrats until his suspension, which followed the sharing of the controversial posts. He formally left the party in March alongside his mayoral resignation.
To officially resign as councillor, Dr. Pankhania must submit a letter to the council’s chief executive, which likely will trigger a by-election this summer. However, the winner of that election will serve a brief term, as all seats on the Bath and North East Somerset Council will be up for election on May 6, 2027.
The posts shared referenced an arson attack on Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green in March. Five individuals have been charged in connection with a counter-terrorism investigation, and a trial is scheduled for January 2027. Hatzola is a volunteer-led emergency ambulance service dedicated to responding to all who need medical assistance, regardless of faith.
At the time, Dr. Pankhania apologized on X for sharing posts that did not align with his values, describing them as “abhorrent” and removing them promptly. He emphasized in an interview, “There is no way I hate people or other religions. It was a pure and simple mistake, and that’s why I immediately apologized and withdrew my retweets.”