THE Mayor of Bath has resigned after retweeting “abhorrent” posts on X about the arson attack on Jewish volunteer-run ambulances in Golders Green.

Dr Bharat Pankhania, the 798th Mayor of Bath, retweeted a post on his personal account on X (formerly Twitter) which called the arson an Israeli false flag operation.

He has published a full apology on X and deleted the tweets, which he said were “abhorrent” and did not align to his beliefs.

He has now offered his resignation as Mayor of Bath. Dr Pankhania is the first holder of the office to resign since 1937.

Created by Richard the Lionheart in 1189, the Mayor of Bath is today a purely ceremonial role held for a year at a time by one of the councillors on Bath and North East Somerset Council who represent a ward within the city.

Dr Pankhania has been a Liberal Democrat councillor for Combe Down since 2019, but was suspended by the political group and set to take training in “equalities and social media conduct” following the retweets.

On Monday (March 30), he offered his resignation from the Liberal Democrat group alongside his resignation as Mayor of Bath.

A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat group said: “Both these resignations have been accepted. Councillor 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, councillor 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.”

Dr Pankhania remains as councillor for Combe Down on Bath and North East Somerset Council, but is not a part of a political group.

The next Mayor of Bath will be chosen on June 6.