Over 1,000 UK Councillors Pledge Support for Palestinian Cause

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Over 1,000 English councillors have signed a pledge supporting Palestinians ahead of local elections in May. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign launched the Councillor Pledge for Palestine initiative in December, which aims to encourage politicians to uphold Palestinian rights and take action against Israeli actions deemed as genocide and apartheid.

As of now, 1,152 sitting councillors have signed the pledge, including representatives from various parties such as the Green Party (387), Labour Party (375), Liberal Democrats (115), and Scottish National Party. Five councillors from the Conservative Party are also among the signatories.

The campaign is supported by Vote Palestine, a grassroots initiative coordinated by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and backed by several organizations. The pledge aims to pressure councils to adopt policies aligned with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, including divesting pension funds from companies linked to Israeli arms production.

According to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, local government pension scheme funds invest over £12.2 billion in companies complicit in international law violations. Thirty-one councils have passed motions or issued statements supporting divestment of pension funds, with 46% of voters backing divestment and 14% opposing it.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has endorsed the movement, calling on campaigners to support a “people’s pledge” where supporters promise to back only those council candidates who have backed Vote Palestine. Signatories include Green Party deputy leader Mothin Ali and Trafford councillor Hannah Spencer.

The May local elections are seen as a test for the Labour government, which has faced declining poll ratings since its election in 2024. Campaigners believe that Vote Palestine could influence results in closely contested areas, such as Hackney, where Labour faces a challenge from the Greens and Independent Socialists.

Source: Al Jazeera