Council won't divest from companies that supply arms to Israel

BUT AUTHORITY HAS SIGNED STATEMENT ENCOURAGING FIRMS TO ADHERE TO UN HUMAN RIGHTS GUIDELINES

- By JOSEPH CONNOLLY

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE County Council says it has no plans to change its Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) investments in companies that supply arms to Israel's military, after a petition was set up.

Hundreds of signatures were collected by action group volunteers at a peaceful Pro-Palestine demonstration in Nottingham city centre on Monday, August 11.

When the Local Democracy Reporting Service spoke to the groups, they appeared hopeful and positive that discussions would take place with the council if the number of signatures on the petition reached a certain threshold.

But a spokesperson for the council says this is not the case, commenting that its "approach does not involve divestment".

They said: "The Nottinghamshire LGPS fund does hold investments in companies operating in conflict zones, including the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).