Category: Uncategorized

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.

The Argus Reports West Sussex County Council rejects call to divest pension fund

Jack Roberts of the Argus newspaper gave the following report on the 20th December 2025:

West Sussex County Council has rejected a public call to divest its pension fund from companies linked to Israel.

Councillors debated the petition during a full council meeting on Friday, December 12.

The petition urged the council to “urgently commit to divesting its Local Government Pension Scheme investments from companies complicit in Israel’s genocide, military occupation, and apartheid against Palestinians.” ….

To read the full story, please follow this link to the original published in the Argus.

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.

Divestment Address and Debate at West Sussex County Council Full Meeting 12th December 2025

A webcast recording of this meeting is available from the County Council on this link.

A clip from the County Council video of the meeting, covering the divestment address and debate, can be viewed below.

After the debate, there was a public demonstration of support for the petition outside County Hall. Photographs of the public demonstration can be viewed in the image gallery below.

WS – Divest! Secures Major Win as West Sussex Council Agrees to Debate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHICHESTER, WEST SUSSEX — December 2025

WS – Divest! has achieved a significant campaign victory, successfully securing a formal debate at the upcoming full West Sussex County Council meeting on Friday 12th December at 10:30am. Councillors will, for the first time, be required to publicly examine the county’s pension fund investments in companies complicit in the Israeli government’s occupation of Palestine and war crimes in Gaza.

Continue reading “WS – Divest! Secures Major Win as West Sussex Council Agrees to Debate”

Join us to Support Divestment on Friday 12th December at 10:15 & 11:30

Please join us on the 12th December outside County Hall and call for West Sussex Council to divest from companies complicit in breaches of international law and human rights abuses in Palestine

At 10:15am the full county council will meet. The first item on the agenda is the divestment appeal backed by our petition of almost 3,300 signatures.

At 11:30am we will hold a demonstration of public support for divestment, outside the County Hall.

Continue reading “Join us to Support Divestment on Friday 12th December at 10:15 & 11:30”

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.

Chichester Cinema Palestine Film Season

The Chichester Cinema (in New Park) will be showing four films this autumn about Palestine. This is part of their Palestine Cinema Season.

If you wish to view all four Palestinian films the Cinema can provide all four tickets for only £35.00

WS-Divest strongly support the screening of these films in Chichester and we hope this will raise awareness of the ugly genocide taking place in Gaza.