UK government said set to present bill barring public bodies from boycotting Israel
Legislation reportedly to be unveiled Monday; Minister Michael Gove says BDS initiatives commonly lead to ‘appalling antisemitic rhetoric and abuse’
Britain’s government will present a bill Monday aiming to bar local councils and other public bodies from boycotting Israeli goods, according to a report Saturday.
The legislation was set to be unveiled by Michael Gove, the minister in charge of local government, The Telegraph reported, adding that it would introduce “significant” fines for offenders.
Gove explained to the daily that the bill sought to combat the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) anti-Israel movement, arguing that such initiatives are commonly accompanied by antisemitic discourse.
“It is simply wrong that public bodies have been wasting taxpayers’ time and money pursuing their own foreign policy agenda,” he was quoted as saying. “The UK must have a consistent approach to foreign policy, set by UK government.”
“These campaigns not only undermine the UK’s foreign policy but lead to appalling antisemitic rhetoric and abuse,” he continued. “That is why we have taken this decisive action to stop these disruptive policies once and for all.”
A commitment to advance such a law first appeared in a 2019 election campaign manifesto by the Conservative Party, which is currently in power. This pledge was also featured in Queen Elizabeth II’s annual speech last year, a few months before she died at age 96.
Documentation that accompanied the queen’s speech cited as examples a decision by the city council of Lancaster to support Israel-related boycotts in 2021 and a similar move by the Leicester City Council in 2014. Other councils, including in Swansea and Gwynedd, have also previously launched boycotts of settlements, according to UK media.
The previous leader of the opposition Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, had supported boycotts targeting West Bank settlements, though not blanket boycotts of Israel. He was eventually ousted from the party over numerous accusations of antisemitism and failing to take adequate action against antisemitic remarks and individuals within the party.
Corbyn’s successor, Keir Starmer, has sought to distance himself from Corbyn’s legacy, has taken comprehensive action to root out antisemitism, and has said the party does not support BDS.
A Labour spokesperson issued a statement on the new bill, saying: “We haven’t seen the Bill yet so will have to study it, but we have always opposed BDS and tabled an amendment to the public procurement bill last year to prevent councils from singling out Israel for special treatment. We were disappointed that the Conservative government didn’t support it.”
The Times of Israel Community.