“Had legislation such as this been in effect in the 1980s it would have made it unlawful to refuse to source goods from apartheid South Africa.”
Apsana Begum MP.
Aspana Begum MP issued this statement on the evening of Monday July 3.
Tonight I voted against the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill at Second Reading.
The Bill states that public bodies, including local councils and universities, making procurement or investment decisions must not allow that decision to be influenced by “political or moral disapproval of foreign state conduct”.
It is opposed by trade unions and a wide range of civil society organisations and is yet another attack on our democratic freedoms.
Had legislation such as this been in effect in the 1980s it would have made it unlawful to refuse to source goods from apartheid South Africa.
I support the right of public bodies to make investment decisions informed by ethical considerations. This can include, for example, decisions not to invest in climate-destroying fossil fuel companies or in the arms industry or to take account of breaches of international law or human rights abuses such as torture, genocide, unlawful occupations, forced evictions, unlawful military invasions, war crimes and other crimes against humanity.
I believe that we all have a responsibility to stand in solidarity with the oppressed and speak out against injustice wherever it may be – without exception.
- Apsana Begum is the MP for Poplar and Limehouse, you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
I couldn’t agree more Apsana. One can understand why it is that the Palestinians and two state solution aren’t in the ‘favourites list’ with most MP’s as they are probably in the pay of the Zionist lobby. I’m sorry to say this Apsana as you uphold the same ethical/moral issues as myself but I won’t be voting for Starmer in the next elections (If the right wing Labour Executive haven’t replaced him by then)