MEMBERS of the Town Hall’s pension scheme are being asked about plans to divest, in a pioneering scheme that could see the council withdraw investments from companies involved in violations of international law.

Following pressure from campaign groups, including Islington Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), the Town Hall have committed to asking members whether it should divest its holdings from companies that have been identified by the United Nations as engaged in activities raising human rights concerns in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

If the plans get the go-ahead, Islington Council could be the first in the UK to take this type of action.

Esme Waterfield, from Islington PSC, said: “Few Local Government Pension Scheme members across the UK have been given the opportunity to have a say in how their fund is invested. Transparency and accountability should be the norm for all of us rather than an exception. We recognise the significance of the current consultation against this background”.

US tech giant Palantir is among the companies being flagged for divestment, as well as organisations providing tourism listings in the occupied territories, for example Airbnb and Expedia.

In order to press ahead with the divestment, the council must show that members of the scheme agree with the decision. The consultation is due to close next week, on June 21, and will therefore provide the legal basis for future decisions.

Pensioner Veronica Simpson told the Tribune that she was “so pleased” to have the opportunity to vote in favour of the divestment. “It is fantastic that the council have the courage to do it now. It’s a disgrace that Israel has got away with its behaviour for so many years and you do feel that now, after all these years, something hopefully will change.”

Councillor Paul Convery, Islington’s finance chief, said: “The six-week consultation began in mid-May and I want to encourage the widest response from our 23,000 fund members.

“The results of the consultation will be reported to the pension committee at its next quarterly meeting on July 21.”