Birmingham councillors chant ‘Free Palestine’ after vote to ban Israel-linked investments

Footage from the November 3 meeting shared online showed councillors leaping to their feet, chanting, cheering, applauding and raising fists as the vote passed.

The motion calls for a six-month examination of investments held by both the council and the West Midlands Pension Fund, with potential outcomes including engagement, exclusion or full divestment on human rights grounds.

Independent councillor Nosheen Khalid, who represents Alum Rock and serves as cabinet member for health and social care within the ruling coalition’s Better Birmingham group, brought the motion.

“Where money goes, responsibility follows,” she told fellow councillors.

“This is a day that residents should be proud of; it’s a day that we are certainly proud of, and it is one step closer to making the right decisions and the right choices for the people of Birmingham and the people beyond and the people of Palestine.”

Councillor Jamil Khan of Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East seconded the proposal.

Their motion urged Europe’s biggest local authority to scrutinise its procurement, banking arrangements and commercial dealings for connections to companies allegedly involved in serious breaches of international law.

It also proposes writing to other local authorities on the West Midlands Pension Fund Pensions Committee to establish a cross-authority task group examining investment holdings.

Passing the bill does not mean an immediate withdrawal of funds connected to Israel; it endorses a formal process to scrutinise existing financial links and determine what steps might lawfully be taken.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism condemned the council’s decision as “certainly morally reprehensible”.

“At a time of the worst levels of antisemitism in living memory, Birmingham City councillors should be standing with the Jewish community, not pouring fuel on the fire.”

In its response, the CAA also suggested the motion could raise legal complications.

“Back in May 2025, then-communities minister Alex Norris reminded stakeholders that ‘the Cabinet Office has published guidance to public authorities prohibiting procurement boycotts against Israeli firms and firms which trade with Israel,’ and it is widely believed that this motion, if put into practice, could well be illegal,” they said.

Before the vote, UK Lawyers for Israel urged the council to withdraw or postpone the motion, arguing it raised significant legal and equality concerns.

“Birmingham City Council cannot lawfully use public contracts, pension funds, and banking arrangements to pursue political campaigns,” A UKLFI spokesperson said.

“It is particularly disturbing that a motion which could increase hostility toward Jewish residents is being presented as having no equality implications. Councillors must put the law, the interests of pension fund members, and community relations ahead of performative political gestures.”

The vote took place against a backdrop of heightened political tension within Birmingham’s ruling coalition.

Three Labour MPs representing the city, Al Carns, Jess Phillips and Preet Gill, wrote to Liberal Democrat council leader Roger Harmer with major concerns about his power-sharing arrangement with the Green Party.

The three lawmakers pressed him to end the coalition if cabinet members from Zack Polanski’s party refused to disavow the “Zionism is racism” motion that passed at the national conference in Brighton last month.

Birmingham’s Green councillors have insisted they remain dedicated to representing all faiths and communities whilst continuing to oppose “genocide, ethnic cleansing, apartheid and the illegal occupation”.

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