LONDON — More than 1,000 councillors across England have pledged support for Palestinian rights ahead of the May local elections, as campaigners seek to make Palestine a central issue in the upcoming vote.
The Councillor Pledge for Palestine, launched in December by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and supported by the Vote Palestine 2026, commits elected representatives to upholding Palestinian rights and ensuring local authorities are not complicit in alleged violations of international law by Israel.
Among the proposed measures is the divestment of council pension funds from companies linked to such violations. According to campaign organisers, 31 councils have already adopted motions or issued statements backing pension fund divestment. Data from the campaign suggests 46% of voters support the policy, while 14% oppose it.
“The mass movement for Palestine — which has brought millions onto Britain’s streets — is not going away,” said Dan Iley-Williamson, political organiser at the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, in a statement on Saturday. “Vote Palestine will take our demands into the May elections and send a clear message to those seeking office: if you want our votes, stand up for Palestine.”
Of the 1,028 councillors who have signed the pledge, 345 are members of the Green Party of England and Wales, 338 from the Labour Party, and 104 from the Liberal Democrats, alongside three Conservatives and hundreds representing the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru, the Scottish Greens, local parties, and independent councillors.
Notable signatories include Green Party deputy leader Mothin Ali, Trafford councillor and by-election candidate Hannah Spencer, Matthew Brown of Preston City Council, and independent MP and Birmingham councillor Ayoub Khan.
The coalition has also launched a People’s Pledge for Palestine, encouraging voters to support only candidates who have signed the councillor commitment.
The initiative comes as the Labour Party faces declining national support, raising concerns about potential losses in key councils. Richard Burgon, Labour MP for Leeds East, criticised party leader Keir Starmer, arguing that the party’s stance on Palestinian rights has already affected electoral performance and could continue to do so in May.
Local impact and political debate
In some areas, campaigners believe the pledge could influence electoral outcomes. In Hackney, where Labour holds a large majority, all six councillors from the Independent Socialists group and several Green councillors have signed the pledge, compared with only three Labour representatives.
Green councillor and mayoral candidate Zoe Garbett said the borough’s historic opposition to South African apartheid provided a precedent for taking a similar stance on Palestinian rights.
Independent Oxford councillor Hosnieh Djafari-Marbini described the pledge as an indicator of candidates’ integrity and consistency in applying international law.
Meanwhile, Trafford councillor Hannah Spencer said many constituents were deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation and were seeking political alternatives that more clearly reflected their views.
