Overview
- The Palestine Solidarity Campaign emailed every councillor in the UK urging them to sign a pledge backing divestment from Israeli‑linked companies and said it will publish who signs.
- Communities Secretary Steve Reed recently warned councils they could face legal action if they continue boycotts of Israeli businesses.
- Ten councils have already passed motions committing pension funds to divest from firms they deem complicit in Israel’s actions.
- The PSC says nearly 1,000 councillors from Labour, the Greens, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives have signed and cites Opinium polling showing 46% support for council divestment.
- Figures including Labour’s Luke Akehurst, Lord Walney and councillor Stuart Fawcett condemned the tactic as intimidation and outside councils’ remit, with concerns heightened by reports of rising antisemitism and related policing warnings.