‘Modest’ proposal outlined to ban council pension pots from boycotting Israel
Robert Jenrick told the Commons the amendment to a bill would stop local authorities from making 'politicised' investment choices
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Former Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has launched a move to change the law to allow the government ban local council pension funds from boycotting Israel-linked investments.
The ex-cabinet minister told the House of Commons that a “modest” amendment to the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill would allow the Government to update guidance on local council pension pots.
He said the proposals would prevent local councils from making “politicised” investment choices that interfere with UK foreign or defence policy.
Jenrick made his call for a ban on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement within town hall pension pots on Wednesday despite the government losing a lengthy legal battle on the issue when he was Communities Secretary.
In 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that parts of the Government’s guidance on boycotts were unlawful, and that it could not stop council pension fund administrators from making such decisions.
Jenrick told MPs: “We don’t want to see local councillors trying to influence foreign policy decisions which are properly the purview of the United Kingdom Government.
“This isn’t about politicising public sector pensions as was implied I think by one member of the Supreme Court. It is precisely the reverse.
“It is ensuring that public sector pensions, which are ultimately paid for by all of us as taxpayers, are not politicised and that political judgements don’t come into the types of investments that are made by these firms.”
The MP, whose wife is Israeli-born, and whose children are brought up as Jews, said the new Bill was the “appropriate place” for his “modest” amendment because it was the successor to the 2013 Public Pensions Act that the court case centred on.
Jenrick stressed that the Government needed to make sure the law is “clearer” than it was in 2013.
Justice minister James Cartlidge added: “Local authorities should not undertake boycotts that could undermine foreign policy, which is a matter for the UK Government alone.
“The Government remains committed to our manifesto pledge to ban public bodies from imposing their own boycotts, disinvestment or sanction campaigns, and we will legislate as soon as parliamentary time allows.”
The Bill aims to create a common legal framework for all public sector pensions, including police, teachers, NHS workers and the armed forces.
Last month Jenrick told a panel discussion event that he believed the BDS movement was being “beaten back” in Britain.
The Conservative MP said: “In the following months, we will be working to outlaw BDS in the UK.”
He added: “There is no political party in the UK that would support BDS today and it is becoming much more of a fringe activity.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
