“We deplore the government’s current attempts to stop local councils

making ethical decisions about investment and procurement. The

proposed new guidelines represent a serious attack on local

democracy and decision making. They will prevent councils from

responding to local public opinion and to campaigns such as those

against violations of international law by Israel, against fossil fuels, the

arms trade and companies practising tax avoidance.

We call on Sheffield City Council to take all legal steps possible to

oppose these new measures, and to reaffirm its commitment to an

ethical basis to its procurement and pensions investment policy.”