Paul Heron, Hackney Socialist Party
The ‘Anti-Boycott Bill’ is designed to restrict the freedom of local authorities, universities, select pension funds, and other public institutions from exercising ethical judgments in their financial decisions. It aims to prevent public bodies from expressing dissent or disapproval through their spending or investment choices, unless explicitly authorised by the government.
The full name of the Tory government’s legislation is the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill. It shields entities involved in human rights violations, environmental degradation, or aggressive conflicts.
Threat
It poses a threat to trade unionists, workers and public bodies who deeply value human rights, workers’ rights and environmental preservation. It undermines our ability to push public institutions to align with the entirely justified concerns of all of us when regarding illegal and unethical practices.
Make no mistake, this is a trade union issue. Do we want our pensions invested in the Israeli settlements in Palestine? Do we want them invested in exploitative, super-profitable schemes that benefit the bosses?
This bill strips out democracy, and our power to tell local councils and other public bodies what to invest in. There will be a protest outside when the bill is debated in Parliament on Wednesday 10 January.
