Borough Council Hears Plea To Take a Moral Stand Over Gaza

Published on: 30 Jul, 2025
Updated on: 11 Aug, 2025

Simon Higgins, wearing a traditional Palestinian scarf or keffiyeh, addresses the full council meeting.

By Martin Giles

A Guildford resident told the full Guildford Borough Council meeting last night (July 29) that it needed to take an ethical and moral stand over the situation in Gaza and stop investing in Barclays Bank.

The bank, Simon Higgins claimed, was “bank-rolling Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people” by underwriting and loaning money to nine companies “whose weapons are being used by Israel in its genocidal attacks on the Palestinian people”.

He continued: “Barclays is funding this genocide, and GBC invests in Barclays. This cannot continue. We have met with the mayor of Guildford, Howard Smith, and lead councillor for finance and property, Richard Lucas, both of whom recognise that genocide is being carried out in Gaza and the moral and ethical duty to divest from Barclays.

“Over 740 individuals have signed a petition demanding that GBC divest from Barclays, other councils and institutions have passed motions to divest from Barclays. We don’t want Guildford Borough Council to be complicit in funding war crimes and genocide. We urge you to pass a motion to divest from Barclays Bank.”

His statement was applauded by about ten supporters sitting in the public gallery.

Cllr Richard Lucas

Cllr Lucas (Lib Dem, Ash Vale), replying on behalf of the council, thanked Mr Higgins for his “heartfelt statement on a very tragic and important situation”.

Lucas continued: “I share Simon’s abhorrence and revulsion at what is happening in Gaza, no argument… Barclays’ public website states they provide services to arms companies that supply NATO but not do not directly invest in these they do not invest their own money into companies that supply weapons used in Gaza.”

Addressing the issue of GBC’s investment management, Lucas said that the council’s policy aligns with the recommended guidance from CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance Association), the industry body of finance for local government. GBC prioritises banks, such as Barclays, that are signatories to the UN principles of responsible banking, Net Zero aims and UK stewardship guidelines.

Nonetheless, GBC has given the required 95-day notice of withdrawal of a £3 million investment but another investment of £1.5 million in bonds, due to mature in 2027, cannot be withdrawn without significant loss.

“In summary,” said the lead councillor, “we share Simon’s revulsion of what is going on in Gaza. We don’t think he has made a clear case against Barclays. And furthermore, we are not in a position to make a detailed judgment on this.”

Simon Higgins wanted to correct what he claimed were errors in Cllr Lucas’ statement but it was explained to him that under council rules he did not have a right of reply.

Bob Hughes

Cllr Bob Hughes (Con, Tillingbourne) commented later: “Mr Higgins is entitled to his views but his assertions about Barclays were, as Cllr Lucas pointed out, wrong. Cllr Lucas was right to reject his demands.

“Mr Higgins made no mention of the murderous attack by Hamas terrorists on mainly young people nearly two years ago and just treated us to the Hamas version of what is happening in Gaza. The crimes of Hamas cannot be ignored nor the fact that they are holding hostages. They should be freed immediately.”

Responses to Borough Council Hears Plea To Take a Moral Stand Over Gaza

Jim Allen Reply

July 30, 2025 at 4:44 pm

Given the current failings in respect of GBC ie: failings encompassing devolution, the housing department’s mismanagement, the looming financial multi-million debt at Weyside Urban Village, and the impending traffic issues at the Gosden Hill entrance, is the council chamber the appropriate venue to debate international mismanagement in the Middle East?
- Simon Higgins Reply
  
  August 1, 2025 at 2:29 pm
  
  Guildford Borough Council is investing council tax money in Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people, therefore it is very appropriate.
- Angela Richardson Reply
  
  August 2, 2025 at 10:42 am
  
  Jim Allen has hit the nail on the head, as usual.
  
  Angela Richardson is the former Conservative MP for Guildford.
James Poke Reply

July 31, 2025 at 5:03 pm

It is absurd to reject independent investigations of Barclays’ activities and then to rely on Barclays’ own website to refute them. I am glad Cllr Lucas is not a judge because on this basis any plea of “not guilty” would lead to an acquittal!

Barclays has a poor record, going back to support for apartheid South Afirca, and a poor record in justifying its activities. And Cllr Lucas was plain wrong to assert that Barclays has withdrawn from Israeli government bonds – the bank stated it was going to withdraw, but then “reaffirmed its commitment as a primary dealer for Israel’s government bonds” (Financial Times).

Cllr Lucas is prepared to take Barclays’ claims at face value, despite evidence to contradict their position, especially when there is no opportunity for subsequent debate on the issue.
A Marriott Reply

July 31, 2025 at 8:46 pm

I live in Guildford and am appalled at Guildford Borough Council’s continued investments in Barclays Bank.

Evidence from the independent research organisation Profundo was presented to the council demonstrating that GBC’s investments in Barclays are funding the genocide in Gaza.

Cllr Richard Lucas’s response was absurd and ludicrous. His counter argument was that Barclays public website said different. When making decisions, does the Council disregard independent research and refer to a company website?

Cllr Lucas continued his absurd argument stating that Barclays claimed to have withdrawn from Israeli government bonds. Perhaps if he had taken the care to do some proper research, he would have known that in August 2024, the Financial Times published an article stating that Barclays had reaffirmed its commitment as a primary dealer for Israel’s government bonds.

It is shameful that Guildford Borough Council is investing in Barclays, an organisation funding genocide and these decisions are made using Barclays website as opposed to independent research.
Madeleine Wincey Reply

August 1, 2025 at 12:43 pm

Hello Guildford Borough Council, things have never been more desperate for the Palestinians in Gaza and also West Bank. Do you support ethnic cleansing, genocide the targeting of children and even babies. Forced starvation. People being herded to food aid centres to be picked off by snipers drones The people of Gaza are denied everything.

Imagine having an amputation or caesarean section with no anaesthetic. Israel, along side us, are breaking international law.

We have heavily sanctioned Russia and yet Israel who are committing far more heinous crimes towards civilians are not being brought to account.

The people can protest and condemn Russia and other brutal states but when we condemn or protest the Israeli atrocities ordinary decent people are called antisemitic and harassed by the police, even Jewish holocaust survivors protesting are treated brutally.

What is happening to society and why would any decent, ethically minded establishment want to have any connection with company’s and banks that are supporting and enabling such brutal regimes in genocide.

Guildford Borough Council is complicit in this. With knowledge comes responsibility. Wouldn’t it like to be on the right side of history. Please, for humanity’s sake, take a moral stand and divest from Barclays now.
K Pritchard Reply

August 1, 2025 at 5:19 pm

The evidence that GBC presented to defend its position is that Barclay Bank’s website stated that the bank no longer invests in the sale of arms to Israel.

One Google search and I came across an article in the Financial Times, in August 2024, with the following headline: “Barclays planned to shun Israeli bond sale under activist pressure” and sub heading “UK bank praised by Israeli government officials after backtracking.”

Barclays Bank says one thing and does another.

I note that Cllr Bob Hughes [Con, Tillingbourne] was happy to voice his support of the council’s decision as he also seemed to think that citing a company’s website was proof positive that the company is being truthful about their investments. He also attempted to smear PSC’s [Palestinian Solidarity Campaign] opposition to genocide with a statement that we gave the “Hamas” version of what is happening in Gaza.

It’s a very sad day when an elected official demonstrates such veiled contempt to those trying to stop the death and starvation of hundreds of thousands of civilians in Gaza.
Mayonne Coldicott Reply

August 3, 2025 at 12:48 pm

Others have commented eloquently on the detail of the Council’s response, and I concur with them. I’d like to pick up on the absurd process. How can it possibly be democratic for the GBC to have advance notice of the three minute speech by a constituent to enable it to be printed in full in the meeting papers, but not give equal access in advance to the public speaker?

When Mr Higgins requested politely a right of reply to information presented at the meeting by Cllr Lucas he was told he had no right of reply. And even when he attempted to explain some of the information quoted on behalf of the council was just plain wrong, the pompous process took priority over truth.

Do they really call this a democratic process?

And more important than that, is it a reasonable way for the council to take important decisions about how to spend/manage the budget on behalf of constituents?

Sadly, I call it a charade, and an utter waste of time.
Simon Higgins Reply

August 6, 2025 at 8:58 am

According to The Lancet, over 60,000 people are believed to have been killed by Israeli Occupation Forces in Gaza, 70 per cent are women and children. Nearly 1400 people, including children, have been killed simply queuing for food.

The International Court of Justice has stated Israel is committing a plausible genocide and its occupation of Palestine, including East Jerusalem is illegal.

On the basis of evidence collected, The International Criminal Court believes that Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant bear criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on the State of Palestine (in the Gaza Strip) from at least 8 October 2023.

In highlighting these well-documented and live-streamed atrocities, Cllr Bob Hughes considers I am “treating” people to what is happening in Gaza.

I can assure Cllr Hughes that the Palestinian people and anyone with any shred of decency, integrity and humanity would not consider this a “treat”. Cllr Hughes should be ashamed to express such odious and repugnant views.