Previously we looked at a BBC Radio 4 programme relating in part to the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill which is currently on the agenda in the UK parliament:
BBC R4 IGNORES EDITORIAL GUIDELINES TO PROMOTE BDS ADVOCATE
Earlier BBC reporting on that topic has included a July 4th report headlined ‘Backlash over bill banning boycotts of Israel goods from public bodies’.
Those wishing to understand more about that proposed legislation and the debate around it can find useful information in a recent webinar produced by UK Lawyers for Israel.
“The UK government has presented a long-awaited Bill to Parliament to ban boycotts divestment and sanctions (BDS) by public bodies. This had been promised in the Conservative Party’s manifesto for the general election in 2019. The Bill has been welcomed by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council, as well as other Jewish and Israel-supporting organisations in the UK. However, its drafting has been criticised by some as unclear, as restricting freedom of expression, for singling out Israel, and for allegedly contravening international law. The Bill passed a second reading in the House of Commons on 3 July 2023 after an amendment to reject it, tabled by the opposition Labour Party, was defeated. Examination of the Bill is expected to continue in public committee in September following the Parliamentary recess. In this webinar Jonathan D.C. Turner, UKLFI Chief Executive, and Natasha Hausdorff, UKLFI Charitable Trust Legal Director, will examine what the Bill says and criticisms that have been made of it.”
