Liberal Democrats call for divestment from companies complicit in “humanitarian disaster” in Gaza

Southwark Liberal Democrats have written to the Council Leader proposing a cross-party motion to the next Council Assembly that would commit the council to divesting from its pension fund any company complicit in the “humanitarian disaster” happening in Gaza.  

Citing precedent in the 1980s where Southwark Council vocally and actively supported efforts to oppose the apartheid in South Africa, the Liberal Democrats have described the council’s current position as “untenable”.  

Whilst the council has identified around £4.6 million worth of investments on the UN’s list of companies involved in human rights violations, including activity in illegally occupied Palestinian territories, campaign groups say that there may be as much as £96 million invested in companies that could be withdrawn to put financial pressure on the Israeli government. 

Liberal Democrat run Kingston Council has also recently committed to looking at its pension investments to ensure that it is not investing in any companies that are complicit in violations of international law, in Palestine and across the world.  

This comes as the national Liberal Democrats have escalated their calls governments to do more to end the “Gaza horror”, with Ed Davey boycotting US President Donald Trump’s state banquet to highlight the issue. 

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Victor Chamberlain said:  

“It’s long past time for Southwark to stand up for its values, and in both action and rhetoric do all it can to end the unimaginable suffering of Gazans. I’m proud of the work that Ed Davey and Layla Moran have done in Parliament to hold the Government’s feet to the fire on this issue.  

We can and must go further and faster to bring about a lasting peace that ends the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, and brings the hostages home. 

In the 1980s with apartheid South Africa, and more recently with the Ukraine conflict, Southwark Council has demonstrated a commitment to upholding human rights and international law.  

We’re proposing a cross-party, serious commitment to divesting any and all unethical investments that the council may hold in its pension funds. We hope that the administration will join us in doing what we can to be on the right side of history.”