Pro-Palestine and rights campaigners in the UK have celebrated the suspension of a bill that aimed to ban boycotts of Israel by local authorities, following the announcement of a general election. Several pieces of legislation, including the bill targeting the Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions (BDS) movement, will not move forward after UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called for the election on Wednesday.
The proposed bill sought to restrict public bodies from considering political or moral disapproval of a foreign state in procurement and investment decisions. With polls favoring the Labour Party, known for its opposition to the bill, winning the election on 4 July, hope for its defeat is high.
Advocacy group Liberty hailed the shelving of the bill as good news for civil liberties, emphasizing the importance of protecting freedom of expression. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign also rejoiced, calling the bill’s defeat a victory for BDS campaigns against human rights abuses.
Labour losing ground with Muslims
A recent report suggests that Labour MPs in constituencies with high Muslim populations could face challenges in the upcoming election due to the party’s stance on Israel’s war on Gaza. With pro-Palestinian independent candidates emerging, Labour MPs risk losing support in areas with Muslim majorities.