Let councils boycott Israel, new Attorney General told Labour

from Telegraph

The newly appointed Attorney General previously advised Labour it should allow public bodies to boycott Israel.

Richard Hermer KC provided legal advice last July on Tory plans to ban all public bodies from imposing their own divestment campaigns on foreign countries and ­territories.

Michael Gove, then the Communities Secretary, introduced the legislation, which was promised in the 2019 manifesto, after several councils backed the BDS (boycott, divestment and sanction) movement against Israel.

Mr Hermer told Labour the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill would “stifle free speech at home”.

He criticised the Bill as “poorly drafted” and said it would have a “detrimental impact on the United Kingdom’s ability to protect and promote human rights overseas”.

The legislation was ultimately dropped...

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