Author: Gill Poole

BDS

Lewis Backon, point person for divestment within PSC’s centre team, has been discussing (at Branch Forum) pronouncements made by the Starmer government concerning divestment. One pronouncement, articulated in a 12/05/26 letter to local authorities by the then local government minister, Alison McGovern, states

“Decisions on BDS are matters of UK [Government] foreign policy thus for central government, not local authorities.”

In response to this, PSC has said their understanding is that such a stance was ruled unlawful in 2020. They have emailed the current local government minister, Florence Eshalomi to that effect.

This is important to us in WS-Divest because the WSCC head of pensions, Rachel Wood (an officer employed by the council), has recently advanced the Alison McGovern argument with the new WS administration. Hopefully PSC will be able to confirm that it is indeed unlawful and lay it to rest.

Palantir

Date for diary: Thursday October 1st, Day of Action on Palantir

In support of the Health Worker’s campaign regarding, for example, Palantir’s access to medical data.

PSC members and supporters are urged to join protests at local hospitals and there will be a protest on that day outside the Palantir Headquarters at Soho Square.

PSC can facilitate contact with health workers who are demonstrating.

A focus of the campaign is the 27/02/27 break clause in the Palestine-Government contract to put pressure on the government not to renew.

Wales

During August 1st-8th the Welsh Eisteddfod was held (one of the biggest cultural festivals in Europe). PSC organised a stall there which included images of the Gaza No Words exhibition – which the First Minister and Deputy Minister opened!

Plaid Cymru has a long history of supporting Palestine. It formally endorsed the BDS movement at its party conference in October 24.

40% of the Synod as a whole support the BDS movement.

Divestment update

While the grass in parks and gardens may be parched, our WS-Divest grassroots campaign is thriving!

Pre the May elections, we kept Palestine high on voters’ and party agendas with the use of the PSC Pledge for Palestine campaign.

Post the elections – with a far-more progressive WSCC administration to work with – we’ve been advancing our cause with councillors, some of whom prior to the elections were already firm friends.

Thanks to everyone who completed the WS Pension Committee’s recent Consultation document. Due to the efforts of WS-Unision, the consultation included questions that enabled a critique of the WS LGPS investment policies, once again highlighting that WS currently invests in companies enabling Israel’s genocide and illegal occupation.

The pension committee’s “rulebook” is its Investment Strategy Statement (ISS) currently in draught form and under discussion. The first past of this draught was discussed at the last pensions committee meeting but not yet those parts most relevant to our campaign. These are due to come under the spotlight at the next pensions committee meeting on the 6th November. Not forgetting though, that there is a full council meeting prior to this on the 16th October, both these “events” providing an opportunity for our campaign to make its mark.

Rumours in Parliament

PSC has reported that there are rumours in parliament that the government will move to some sort of ban on goods from illegal Israeli settlements – possibly in early September. They say that while this is to be welcomed, they note that it will still fall short of the Government’s obligation under the ICJ ruling, which calls on states to end all trade aiding or assisting Israel’s illegal occupation.

On 08/06/26 140 Labour MPs called for a ban on this trade in an Open Letter to Yvette Cooper.

Melanie Ward MP, lead signatory, said “Israel itself is clear that this [expansion of settlements] is designed to prevent a two-state solution ever being realised.”

Please take 2 minutes to add your name to PSC’s petition demanding the new Prime Minister ends Britain’s complicity in Israel’s ongoing genocide, illegal occupation, and system of apartheid. https://palestinecampaign.eaction.org.uk/tell-andy-burnham-to-sanction-israel

Update from Gill Poole on 12th December Divestment formal debate at West Sussex County Council and the Presentation of the Petition

A quick account of the 12/12 petition presentation for those who couldn’t be there:

  • 5-minute address, I didn’t fluff my lines (phew!)
  • Great audience participation from our supporters in the public gallery.
  • The bad news: the Tory ‘do nothing’ proposition passed 32 to 20 (10 abstentions). Outrageous!
  • The good news:
  • Four of the Tories didn’t vote for their own motion.
  • All of Labour, Lib Dems and Green/Independent alliance voted against the Tory ‘do nothing’ proposition.
  • All three parties put propositions of their own in support of the petition.
  • The demo that followed went well: Debbie Woudman (convenor of Worthing Green Party branch) spoke in support of the petition. Plus a number of those present spoke about what else they are doing for Palestine.

Going forward:

  • Development of the relationship with supportive Councillors?
  • Focus on the Pensions Committee?
  • A new petition?

Presentation of WS-Divest Petition with 3,293 signatures

The presentation of our petition was met with predictable results. All but four of the Tory councillors voted to ignore it. Outrageous! However the good news is that all the councillors in the other main parties: Labour, Lib Dem, Green/Independent alliance put in their own motions of support for the petition and all voted against the Tories ‘do nothing’ motion – a superb joint effort!

Now the campaign goes on! WS-Divest – Bigger and Better in 2026.

Decisive stage in WS Divestment Campaign!

Our WS-Divest petition of almost 3,300 signatures has now been verified by Democratic Services and that WSCC, after much wrangling, has agreed the campaign can make a 5-minute address to the next full council meeting on 12/12/25 followed by a debate. This will be the first item on the agenda.

Also we expect that at least one councillor will be putting a proposition to the Pensions Committee in support of the petition.

WS-Divest has been requested to submit its own concise statement to accompany the petition and it’s our understanding that this will appear on the Council website along with the agenda papers.