Dr. Bharat Pankhania, the 798th Mayor of Bath, has resigned from his ceremonial post after retweeting posts on X (formerly Twitter) that called the recent arson attack on Jewish volunteer-run ambulances in Golders Green an Israeli false flag operation.
Last week, several Hatzola ambulances—volunteer emergency vehicles serving the Jewish community in London—were deliberately set on fire in an attack treated by police as an antisemitic hate crime. Dr. Pankhania shared posts alleging the incident was staged and suggesting insurance fraud, claims widely condemned as offensive and unfounded.
Following the controversy, Dr. Pankhania issued a full apology, acknowledging that the retweets were “abhorrent” and did not represent his beliefs. He promptly deleted the tweets and expressed regret for his mistake, explaining he did not intend to endorse harmful views.
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Dr. Pankhania’s public apology stated: “I have been made aware that I have reposted or replied to some posts which have never aligned to my values and beliefs, and which are abhorrent. I am incredibly apologetic that I have not lived up to the standards I set myself… I wish to apologise unreservedly.”
As a result of the incident, he was suspended from the Liberal Democrat group on Bath and North East Somerset Council and required to undergo training in equalities and social media conduct. On March 30, he resigned both as Mayor of Bath and from the Liberal Democrat group, becoming the first mayor to resign from the position, established under Richard the Lionheart in 1189, since 1937.
Despite stepping down from the mayoral role and party group, Dr. Pankhania remains a councillor for the Combe Down ward as an independent member. Until the appointment of a new mayor on June 6, Deputy Mayor Ian Halsall and fellow councillors will handle civic duties.
A Liberal Democrat spokesperson stated: “Councillor Pankhania is taking clear personal responsibility for his actions. We reject discrimination wherever it occurs and reiterate our stance against antisemitism. He apologised and acknowledged the hurt caused while reaffirming his commitment to working with all communities.”
The arson attack targeted four Hatzola ambulances in a London neighbourhood with a significant Jewish population. Two men arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life have since been released on strict bail while the investigation continues.