More than 1,000 councillors across the United Kingdom have pledged support for Palestinian rights ahead of the May local elections.
The initiative aims to pressure local authorities to divest from companies linked to Israeli arms production.
The Councillor Pledge for Palestine, launched by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) in December 2025, urges UK politicians to uphold Palestinian rights and oppose Israel’s alleged crimes of genocide and apartheid. According to the campaign, 1,152 sitting councillors have signed the pledge so far.
Among the signatories, 387 are from the Green Party, 375 from Labour, and 115 from the Liberal Democrats. Five Conservative councillors have also signed, alongside members from the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru, Scottish Greens, local parties, and independents. No far-right Reform UK candidates have participated.
The campaign will expand to all candidates in March, supported by Vote Palestine, a grassroots effort coordinated by the PSC and backed by the Palestinian Youth Movement Britain, the Palestinian Forum in Britain, The Muslim Vote, and the British Palestinian Committee.
The initiative aims to pressure councils to adopt policies aligned with the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, including divesting pension funds from companies involved in Israeli arms production.
The Local Government Pension Scheme funds, managed by councils, invest over £12.2 billion ($16.5bn) in companies accused of violating international law, the PSC claims. To date, 31 councils have passed motions supporting divestment, with polls indicating that 46% of voters support divestment, compared to 14% opposition.
Supporters draw inspiration from the anti-apartheid campaigns of the 1980s, when over 100 local authorities banned South African goods and ended pension investments in companies with South African subsidiaries.
Political endorsements
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn endorsed the campaign, calling for Palestine to become a central issue in the 2026 local elections. On X, he urged supporters to back a “people’s pledge”, pledging to vote only for candidates aligned with Vote Palestine.
Notable councillors signing the candidates’ pledge include:
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Mothin Ali, Green Party deputy leader
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Hannah Spencer, Trafford councillor and by-election candidate
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Matthew Brown, Labour leader of Preston City Council
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Ayoub Khan, independent MP and Birmingham councillor
Impact on labour in key areas
The May elections are seen as a litmus test for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government, which has faced declining poll ratings since taking office in 2024. Critics argue that Labour’s handling of Israel’s actions in Gaza has contributed to voter dissatisfaction.
In Hackney, north London, Labour faces a challenge from the Green Party and Independent Socialists. All six of Hackney’s Green councillors have signed the pledge, compared to three Labour councillors. Zoe Garbett, a Green candidate for mayor, emphasized the borough’s solidarity with Palestinians, citing parallels with past anti-apartheid stances.
Labour MPs like Richard Burgon have also voiced support, warning that Starmer’s reluctance to take a strong stance on Palestine may harm the party in the May elections.
Amid the campaign, legal challenges have surrounded the Palestine Action activist group. High Court rulings and ongoing appeals have left the group’s proscription under antiterrorism legislation in place.
One alleged member, Amu Gib, is running for Islington Council in Finsbury Park while serving a prison sentence. Gib previously went on a 49-day hunger strike and faces charges related to alleged sabotage at RAF Brize Norton, Britain’s largest air force base.
Campaigners say Gib’s election would mark the first time a prisoner has been elected to public office in the UK since Bobby Sands in 1981. Dan Iley-Williamson, PSC political organiser, stated that the Vote Palestine movement aims to bring the demands of millions onto the May elections and signal that candidates must stand up for Palestine to earn voter support.
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