UK Plan to Outlaw Boycotts Compared to Support for Apartheid South Africa
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is among the voices speaking out against new proposal, which he calls an "attack on local democracy."
The British government's move to outlaw boycotts, including those aimed at Israel, is being likened by critics to former Prime Minster Margaret Thatcher's support for apartheid South Africa.
Under the new plan, publicly-funded institutions that refuse to purchase goods and services from "unethical" companies will face "severe penalties," senior government sources told the Independent. The prohibition protects any company that is signatory to the World Trade Organization government procurement agreement, including those "involved in the arms trade, fossil fuels, tobacco products or Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank."
Though details of the plan were first revealed in October, the Independent reports, "Significantly, and underlining the main target of the ban, the formal announcement will be made by the Cabinet Office minister Matt Hancock when he visits Israel this week."
Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn is among those who has voiced opposition to the proposal, which he said amounts to an attack on local democracy.
"The Government's decision to ban councils and other public bodies from divesting from trade or investments they regard as unethical is an attack on local democracy," a Corbyn spokesperson told the press. "People have the right to elect local representatives able to make decisions free of central government political control. That includes withdrawal of investments or procurement on ethical and human rights grounds," the statement continued.
In practice, the ban imposes "Conservative Party policies on elected local councils across the board," Corbyn added, noting that the ban "would have outlawed council action against apartheid South Africa."
Rafeef Ziadah, a UK spokesperson for the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) National Committee, said the ban will likely only strengthen the resolve to protest "unethical" activities and leave the UK government, once again, on the "wrong side of history."
"By undermining local democracy in service of Israel, [Prime Minister] David Cameron is standing on the wrong side of history just as Margaret Thatcher did with her support for apartheid South Africa," Ziadah said.
"Far from thwarting the growing public support for the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality, these measures simply shine a spotlight on the UK's deepening support for Israel's oppression of Palestinians."
The growing BDS campaign has increasingly been targeted by leaders of Israel-allied nations--including the UK, the United States, and Canada--which organizers say is evidence of its growing impact.
Councils in the UK hamlets of Leicester, Swansea, and Bristol are among the local bodies that recently passed resolutions in support of BDS or condemning companies involved in illegal Israeli settlements, though a number of those motions were non-binding and now threaten to be superseded.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
The British government's move to outlaw boycotts, including those aimed at Israel, is being likened by critics to former Prime Minster Margaret Thatcher's support for apartheid South Africa.
Under the new plan, publicly-funded institutions that refuse to purchase goods and services from "unethical" companies will face "severe penalties," senior government sources told the Independent. The prohibition protects any company that is signatory to the World Trade Organization government procurement agreement, including those "involved in the arms trade, fossil fuels, tobacco products or Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank."
Though details of the plan were first revealed in October, the Independent reports, "Significantly, and underlining the main target of the ban, the formal announcement will be made by the Cabinet Office minister Matt Hancock when he visits Israel this week."
Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn is among those who has voiced opposition to the proposal, which he said amounts to an attack on local democracy.
"The Government's decision to ban councils and other public bodies from divesting from trade or investments they regard as unethical is an attack on local democracy," a Corbyn spokesperson told the press. "People have the right to elect local representatives able to make decisions free of central government political control. That includes withdrawal of investments or procurement on ethical and human rights grounds," the statement continued.
In practice, the ban imposes "Conservative Party policies on elected local councils across the board," Corbyn added, noting that the ban "would have outlawed council action against apartheid South Africa."
Rafeef Ziadah, a UK spokesperson for the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) National Committee, said the ban will likely only strengthen the resolve to protest "unethical" activities and leave the UK government, once again, on the "wrong side of history."
"By undermining local democracy in service of Israel, [Prime Minister] David Cameron is standing on the wrong side of history just as Margaret Thatcher did with her support for apartheid South Africa," Ziadah said.
"Far from thwarting the growing public support for the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality, these measures simply shine a spotlight on the UK's deepening support for Israel's oppression of Palestinians."
The growing BDS campaign has increasingly been targeted by leaders of Israel-allied nations--including the UK, the United States, and Canada--which organizers say is evidence of its growing impact.
Councils in the UK hamlets of Leicester, Swansea, and Bristol are among the local bodies that recently passed resolutions in support of BDS or condemning companies involved in illegal Israeli settlements, though a number of those motions were non-binding and now threaten to be superseded.
The British government's move to outlaw boycotts, including those aimed at Israel, is being likened by critics to former Prime Minster Margaret Thatcher's support for apartheid South Africa.
Under the new plan, publicly-funded institutions that refuse to purchase goods and services from "unethical" companies will face "severe penalties," senior government sources told the Independent. The prohibition protects any company that is signatory to the World Trade Organization government procurement agreement, including those "involved in the arms trade, fossil fuels, tobacco products or Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank."
Though details of the plan were first revealed in October, the Independent reports, "Significantly, and underlining the main target of the ban, the formal announcement will be made by the Cabinet Office minister Matt Hancock when he visits Israel this week."
Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn is among those who has voiced opposition to the proposal, which he said amounts to an attack on local democracy.
"The Government's decision to ban councils and other public bodies from divesting from trade or investments they regard as unethical is an attack on local democracy," a Corbyn spokesperson told the press. "People have the right to elect local representatives able to make decisions free of central government political control. That includes withdrawal of investments or procurement on ethical and human rights grounds," the statement continued.
In practice, the ban imposes "Conservative Party policies on elected local councils across the board," Corbyn added, noting that the ban "would have outlawed council action against apartheid South Africa."
Rafeef Ziadah, a UK spokesperson for the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) National Committee, said the ban will likely only strengthen the resolve to protest "unethical" activities and leave the UK government, once again, on the "wrong side of history."
"By undermining local democracy in service of Israel, [Prime Minister] David Cameron is standing on the wrong side of history just as Margaret Thatcher did with her support for apartheid South Africa," Ziadah said.
"Far from thwarting the growing public support for the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality, these measures simply shine a spotlight on the UK's deepening support for Israel's oppression of Palestinians."
The growing BDS campaign has increasingly been targeted by leaders of Israel-allied nations--including the UK, the United States, and Canada--which organizers say is evidence of its growing impact.
Councils in the UK hamlets of Leicester, Swansea, and Bristol are among the local bodies that recently passed resolutions in support of BDS or condemning companies involved in illegal Israeli settlements, though a number of those motions were non-binding and now threaten to be superseded.