Protestors calling for the West Yorkshire Pension fund to divest from companies with links to Israel temporarily halted a Bradford Council meeting.
At a full Council meeting on Tuesday, members debated a motion brought by Independent Councillor David Ward. It called for the West Yorkshire Pension Fund to disclose if any companies it invested in were “complicit in the Genocide being committed in Gaza.” If they were, they should divest from such companies.
The pension fund provides retirement incomes to its 300,000 members across Leeds, Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, and Wakefield by investing in various companies.
It is administered by Bradford Council, and Cllr Ward’s motion encouraged the Council to exert pressure on the fund to divert any funding away from companies with links to Israel.
Earlier in the meeting a number of people who had attended to support the motion disrupted proceedings.
During a question to Council bosses on residential parking permits, a number of people in the public unfurled banners, including one that said: “Profits covered in Palestinian blood.”
They then began shouting phrases like “How do you sleep at night?” and “How many kids have you killed today?”
The meeting was paused while police and security guards attempted to calm the scene. Ultimately the protestors were cleared from the public gallery.
Cllr Ward said, “This motion is only asking us to ensure West Yorkshire Pension Fund complies with our country’s own foreign policy.
“Anyone who fails to do whatever they can to stop the Israeli aggression is complicit. Anyone who votes against our motion is helping Israel breach humanitarian law. It is against the law for you to vote against our motion tonight. When it is right to do something, it is wrong to not do it.”
Councillor Rebecca Poulsen, Leader of the Conservatives, said: “Bringing this motion when we’ve just had the anniversary of that appalling attack shows how blinkered and unfit to be a public servant you are.
“Your supporters earlier tonight led to the chamber being cleared. The members of the pension fund have the right to have their pensions be well managed.
“I’ve spoken to Council leaders across the country, and they ask why Bradford Council spend so much time debating the Middle East when they have so many of their own issues.”
Councillor Andrew Thornton said the motion was “an attempt to institute sanctions on a local level.”
He said Councillors had no say on investments made by the Fund, saying: “Whilst Bradford administers the fund, we are not in control of the investment. The Council cannot decide where investment goes.
“It operates in a quasi-trustee role – it is not part of Local Government.”
Council Leader Susan Hinchliffe said the Council was “explicitly prevented” from directing where the fund makes its investments. She added: “We mustn’t mislead people that any councillor in this chamber can counter that.”
Cllr Ward said: “It seems to me that the Tory line is that we shouldn’t do this, while the Labour line is we can’t do this.”
He argued that Councils can put pressure on pension funds, adding: “Just be honest and say you don’t want to do it.”
Cllr Ward’s motion was defeated, with the Council instead voting for a Labour amendment – urging the pension fund to be a “responsible investor” and to urge the Government to “ensure arms and military equipment designed or built in the UK is not used in acts that amount to war crimes.”
