Bromley denies investments in Israeli arms but campaigners call for disclosure

Bromley council has stated that it does not hold any direct investments linked to Israeli's actions in Palestine. One councillor also said international politics were “not the business” of the council.

Bromley’s statement comes in response to a 940-strong petition submitted by Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) Bromley which claimed the council had £1.3m invested in arms companies linked to Israel and £4.5m invested in 41 arms companies, 15 of which were linked to serious human rights abuses.

PSC Bromley said it got these figures from a 2024 Freedom of Information (FOI) request. Its petition called on the council to “publish a full, transparent review of all investments” and “divest immediately from companies supplying weapons used in Gaza and the occupied West Bank”.

Councillor Michael Tickner, chairman of Bromley Council’s Pensions Committee, said the council’s investments and pension were being “successfully administered for the benefit of our residents and pensioners here in Bromley” and denied the council had any investments linked to the Israel's actions in the occupied territories.

In his response to the petition response, Tickner said: “I appreciate many people in Bromley borough and the rest of the UK are very concerned about the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Terrorists, Hamas.

“However international politics are NOT THE BUSINESS of Bromley Council and we do not intend to get involved with it. It is the responsibility of HM Government and its MPs to introduce sanctions against Israel and its suppliers, if it decides to do so, as is already the case with Russia and Iran.”

He stated that Bromley council had no direct investments in any Israeli arms companies, and that its pension fund did not hold any direct investments linked to the war. He added: “I join with the petitioners in wishing for an immediate peaceful end to this conflict.

“I urge them to lobby their MPs to bring in the sanctions they are seeking, and I confirm that if the Government decides to do that, then of course Bromley will ensure that it complies fully with the law.”

PSC Bromley thanked the council for its response but it expressed concern that the council had not fully acknowledged the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The group reiterated the figures it had gathered in the 2024 FOI request and explained the council’s responses to further FOI requests had not provided “full or satisfactory disclosure”.

PSC Bromley repeated its demand for Bromley council to fully disclose its investments. Campaign chair Shahada Hasan said: “A statement that there are no direct investments does not address the core issue raised by the petition.

“Many Local Government Pension Scheme investments are held indirectly through pooled funds, and transparency about these holdings is essential for residents and pension scheme members to understand where public funds are ultimately invested.

“In light of the petition and the previous unsuccessful attempts to obtain this information through FOI requests, we again demand full disclosure of all investments across the Pension Fund and associated portfolios.

“This level of transparency is consistent with the principles of public accountability, responsible stewardship, and the governance obligations expected of local authorities managing public and pension assets.”

PSC Bromley to speak at council meeting 23 March

Hasan has confirmed she will speak on behalf of PSC Bromley at Bromley council’s next full council meeting on March 23. Campaign members have also been encouraged to attend the meeting in the public gallery or protest outside Bromley Civic Centre.

Hasan notably interrupted a Bromley council meeting last December alongside fellow PSC Bromley members after claiming the council had not responded to several FOI requests asking for updates on their investments.

Those who submit petitions with over 500 signatures can address Bromley council for up to five minutes at full council meetings if they are not satisfied with the petition response.

Petitioners addressing the council cannot take part in any subsequent debate and must return to the public gallery after their speech. Councillors will consider the petition and consider whether to recommend any further action or agree that no further action should be taken.

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