Has the UK really banned boycotts?
Activists protested new UK government policy aimed at curbing boycotts of Israel.London Palestine Action
Campaigners accused the government of “smoke and mirrors” over “BDS ban.” London Palestine Action
Activists in London on Monday morning protested a government department behind recent moves to curbethical boycotts such as those aimed at Israel.
In a statement sent to The Electronic Intifada, London Palestine Action said the Department for Communities and Local Government was engaging in “smoke and mirrors” and that the much-touted “boycott ban” was more of an attempt to intimidate than an actual ban.
This is part of a growing pushback against new government procurement guidelines.
Anti-poverty charity War on Want has said that the new rules do not actually stop local councils from making ethical procurement decisions. The government has also faced calls for the policy to face Parliamentary scrutiny.
Smoke and mirrors
A spokesperson for London Palestine Action said in the statement: “The Tories are using smoke and mirrors to smear the huge numbers of people who support the Palestinian liberation struggle and to bully local councils into thinking that they can’t take ethical procurement and investment decisions.”
She said it was “about protecting Israel from criticism because it’s an important military and trade ally.”
The Conservative government is planning similar guidelines around public sector pension funds.
Campaigners from groups affected by the issue, including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, War on Want and the Campaign Against the Arms Trade have organized against further such secondary legislation.
War on Want said in a recent statement that more than 26,000 people responded to a government consultation on the plans, proving there was “massive public outrage.”
The charity said that the plans would mean giving central government the power to veto local investment decisions made on ethical grounds around issues including human rights, the arms trade and fossil fuels.
