The signings come ahead of May local elections, with particular engagement from Labour-run councils…reports Asian Lite News
More than 1,000 local councillors in the UK have signed a pledge of solidarity with Palestine ahead of forthcoming elections. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign-led document, signed by 1,028 councillors to date, commits signatories to uphold what the pledge describes as the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and prevent council complicity in what it characterises as Israel’s violations of international law, including through divesting from pension funds invested in arms companies.
The pledge has attracted support across multiple political parties. Among signatories, 245 are from the Green Party, 338 from Labour, 104 from the Liberal Democrats, 38 from the Scottish National Party, 17 from Plaid Cymru, 12 from Your Party, three Conservatives and numerous independents.
Zoe Garbett, a Hackney Green councillor who signed the pledge, told Sky News that the pledge represents an important opportunity to uphold Palestinian rights and ensure ethical investment practices. “I think that this is really important to uphold the rights of the Palestinian people and to make sure that we can make ethical investments. They want to see their council representing them on a national level,” she said. She added: “We know that most people really want to see an end to the genocide in Gaza, and an end to wars and conflicts all across the world, and they want to see their local representatives standing up for them.”
The pledge has gained particular traction in Labour-dominated councils in London. In Islington, a Labour stronghold, 59 per cent of councillors have signed the pledge, whilst 49 per cent have done so in Tower Hamlets. Similar levels of uptake have been recorded in Sheffield, where no party holds overall control, and Bradford.
Labour has faced sustained pressure regarding Gaza, particularly following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s initial reluctance to call for a ceasefire. Richard Burgon, Labour MP for Leeds East, stated: “I think that so many Labour councillors have been so keen to sign the Palestine pledge as councillors because it puts on record that support for Palestine and distinguishes them from the position taken by the leader of the Labour Party.”
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Britain’s most significant pro-Palestine organisation, has led the pledge initiative with support from the Palestinian Youth Movement Britain, the Palestinian Forum in Britain, The Muslim Vote and the British Palestinian Committee.
Dan Iley-Williamson, PSC political organiser, said local councils in the UK administer pension funds that invest more than £12 billion (approximately £10 billion) in weapons firms linked to Israel. “The mass movement for Palestine — which has brought millions onto Britain’s streets — is not going away,” he added.
The May local elections are widely anticipated to be significant for Labour, with the party facing potential losses across several key councils.
