By Harry Mottram: The Mayor of Bath has quit after he reposted conspiracy theories on X – formerly Twitter – causing disbelief and shock amongst his colleagues in the Guildhall. As a result the Mayor of Bath, Dr Cllr Bharat Pankhania, has resigned from his party and Mayoralship following the fall out over what are seen as antisemitic conspiracy theories on social media, following the attack on ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity in London.
It cannot be emphasised enough that this is unprecedented in the long history of the role of the Mayor of Bath which dates back to 1230 when John de Porta was first recorded to have been given the honour. Several mayors have died in office but none as far as Bath Voice can detect have resigned before their tenure ended. In 1642 Thomas Burford endured attacks on the city by Royalist troops during the Civil War but he stayed in post while other mayors also stuck to their civic duties in difficult circumstances including, plague and wars although until this century none had to negotiate the perils of social media. For the record Dr Cllr Bharat Pankhania apologised after the posts came to light and agreed to undergo social media training but the damage was done. The idea that the arson carried out on the ambulances was ‘an inside job’ has been widely discredited – but the war between Israel and the USA against Iran is part of the backdrop to the crime. His clicks on social media has cost him his civic role and his membership of his political party.
The following statement has been issued by the Liberal Democrats: “Today, March 30 2026, Cllr Bharat Pankhania has offered his resignation from the position of Mayor of Bath and from the Liberal Democrat Group on Bath and North East Somerset Council, from which he had already been suspended. Both these resignations have been accepted. Cllr Pankhania again apologised for his interactions on X, and reiterated that he has spent his life working with all communities, whilst acknowledging the hurt he had caused. In resigning, Cllr Pankhania is taking clear personal responsibility for his actions. As a Group and as a Party, we reject discrimination wherever it occurs and reiterate our stance against antisemitism. “
The Mayor’s Office also made this statement to complete the resignation process: “The Charter Trustees of the City of Bath can confirm that Councillor Professor Bharat Pankhania has resigned from his position as Mayor of Bath. The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Ian Halsall and senior Charter Trustees will cover all civic engagements until the Annual General Meeting on Saturday 6 June 2026 when the next Mayor will be elected.”
Former TV newsman Richard Wyatt who writes about Bath for Newseum penned: “All I can say is June’s ‘Mayor Making’ ceremony at Bath Abbey is going to be a bit awkward.”
Chloe Harcombe of the BBC wrote: Dr Bharat Pankhania, who is a Bath and North East Somerset (Banes) councillor and the mayor of Bath, apologised “unreservedly” for reposting the content on X, which called the burning of four ambulances run by a Jewish charity an ‘Israeli false flag operation’. He has since deleted the posts.”
A Banes spokesperson has now confirmed the resignation and said: “All councillors are expected to follow a code of conduct.”
The Charter Trustees of The City of Bath said that the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Ian Halsall and senior Charter Trustees will cover all civic engagements until the Annual General Meeting on Saturday 6 June 2026 when the next Mayor will be elected.
This is clearly a highly embarrassing resignation for the ruling Liberal Democrats but also for the Charter Trustees of the city who are tasked with appointing the mayor which today is a ceremonial role. A high profile prestige position which is seen as being above politics in which the mayor celebrates the various groups, charities and good works in the city. In the long distant past the mayor had sweeping powers acting more like a head of state with powers to hold assizes, levy fines and prison terms, control the markets and weights and measures and decide on a raft of legal and judicial measures which today’s politicians can only dream of having. Whether this affair damages the ruling Lib Dems remains to be seen – they do not face elections until May 2027 – and are not involved in this year’s elections.
The BBC reported today: “Pankhania shared X posts describing the arson attacks as an Israeli false flag operation, and two further posts claiming the incident was an insurance fraud. He later issued an apology, saying the posts ‘have never aligned’ with his values and beliefs. ‘I am incredibly apologetic that I have not lived up to the standards I set myself,’ he said.’ I have of course deleted them and I wish to apologise unreservedly.'”
The Mayor’s Office has already deleted Dr Bharat Pankhania’s photo. There is now pressure for the councillor to resign from the Combe Down ward where he is now in effect an Independent.
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