More than 1,600 candidates in May local elections make major pro-Palestine pledge

More than 1,600 candidates in May local elections make major pro-Palestine pledge Submitted by Imran Mulla on Wed, 04/22/2026 - 14:57 The pledge, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, commits candidates to support Palestinian rights if elected A march in central London organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, on 29 November 2025 (AFP) Off More than 1,600 candidates standing in the forthcoming local elections in the UK have made a "Pledge for Palestine", Middle East Eye can reveal. The pledge, created by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), commits candidates to use their position to support Palestinian rights if they are elected. It specifically commits to supporting councils divesting pension funds from companies complicit in Israel's violations of international law. At the elections on 7 May, more than 5,000 seats in 136 councils are up for grabs. British foreign policy towards Israel, particularly following the genocide in Gaza and war on Iran, is considered a highly salient issue in what is shaping up to be the most crucial electoral contest since Keir Starmer became prime minister in July 2024. Data seen by MEE shows that the PSC pledge has been made by more than 1,000 Green candidates, more than 200 Labour candidates, more than 200 independents and local parties, as well as some Liberal Democrat and Conservative candidates. Candidates have pledged to "take all appropriate steps to" uphold "the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people", and support "efforts to prevent, and ensure accountability for, Israel’s crimes of genocide, military occupation, ethnic cleansing and apartheid".  Green Party demands ban on Israeli military as terror group and Balfour apology Read More » The pledge also promises to "ensure my council is not complicit in and does not help to normalise Israel’s violations of international law, including through the council divesting pensions and any other funds it administers from complicit companies and through its procurement policies". In January, the Labour government's Communities Secretary Steve Reed warned Labour-administered councils that they could be sued for boycotting Israeli businesses. Reed pointed local councils to government guidance published in 2016 which prohibits procurement boycotts against Israeli firms and firms which trade with Israel. In the past two years, multiple local authorities have voted to boycott companies complicit in Israeli war crimes, arm Israel or benefit from its occupation of Palestinian territory. And the pension funds of numerous councils – including Islington, Lewisham, Wandsworth and Caerphilly – have excluded companies on the United Nations' list of businesses involved in the occupied Palestinian territories. 'Shameful complicity in genocide' Data seen by MEE shows that in the London borough of Camden – which includes Keir Starmer's parliamentary seat – 33 Green candidates signed the PSC's pledge. No Labour candidates signed it.  In Newham, in east London, Labour holds 56 of 66 council seats but faces a major challenge from the left. While only five Labour candidates signed the pledge in Newham, 28 Green candidates and 19 Newham Independents did so. In Hackney, Labour holds 42 out of 57 seats, but is expected to lose control of the council to the Greens. Here, 31 Green candidates have made the pledge, including Zoe Garbett, the party's mayoral candidate. Only two Labour candidates have done so. In the north of England, 16 Green candidates have made the pledge in Bradford, along with 12 from the Your Bradford Independents Group and six from Labour. Labour currently holds 46 out of the 90 seats on the council. Green Party strategist reveals plan for local elections and slams 'sectarian' claims Read More » And in the Midlands, in Birmingham 27 Green candidates have made the pledge, alongside four independents and only one Labour candidate. Labour currently holds 52 out of 101 seats.  Labour also holds 34 out of 78 seats in Newcastle and could lose control of the council to Greens and independents. Two Green candidates have signed the pledge, alongside five Labour candidates. Peter Leary, deputy director of the PSC, said: "We're pleased that candidates from all parties have been taking the pledge, some of them despite the failures of their national party's policies to support divestment from human rights-abusing companies.    "Councillors who can get their councils to stop all complicity – such as divesting pension funds that are linked to companies that are enabling Israel's crimes – can play a crucial role, and voters at these local elections will be looking carefully to see who stands on the side of freedom and justice for Palestine." Faaiz Hasan, a national elections coordinator for the Green Party, told MEE last week that "there is a lot of overlap between local issues and national issues and international issues. This illegal war in Iran has created a cost of living crisis that will come and hurt each and every one of us." He said the Greens were campaigning for councils to divest from pension funds that invest "in companies which profit from the genocide in Gaza, which profit from the destruction of the planet, oil and gas companies and arms manufacturers". Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of Your Party – which is backing local independent groups and candidates – said: "In contrast to the snake-oil alternative of Reform, [Your Party-backed candidates] will be campaigning for socialist policies that can transform people’s lives: free school meals, social housing, and the in-sourcing of public services. "And they will be standing fearlessly against this government’s shameful complicity in genocide." UK Politics News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0