TODAY the curtain closes on Rishi Sunak’s disastrous Tory government. Ahead of the general election, the government is now busy trying to rush through remaining legislation which will otherwise fall when parliament is dissolved.

To do this, it needs agreement from the opposition front bench to speed up the normal parliamentary process. Keir Starmer must not help the Tories to pass their toxic Anti-Boycott Bill.

The government’s s Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill, better known as the Anti-Boycott Bill, threatens to erode local democracy, restrict freedom of expression and undermine campaigns for social and climate justice.

It would prevent public bodies — such as local councils, universities and public-sector pension funds — from making ethical choices about spending and investment.

The government’s main target is campaigns against Israel’s violations of Palestinian rights.

The Bill even singles out Israel by name, alongside the territory it occupies illegally, affording it permanent protection from public-sector boycotts, not extended to any other state.

These campaigns include the inspiring student encampments which have recently spread from the US to British universities as well as efforts by public-sector workers to ensure that their pensions do not finance arms manufacturers who produce weapons that are used by Israel to commit war crimes.

Other movements who use boycott or divestment tactics will also be affected. Boycott and divestment campaigns have been used by social movements throughout history and across the world to pressure regimes, institutions, or companies to change abusive, discriminatory, or illegal practices.

In this way, members of the public have helped to end the trans-Atlantic slave trade, obtain civil rights, and champion freedom and equality. This law could curtail campaigns against deforestation, pollution and the exploitation of children and workers.

Had this legislation been in place during the 1980s, it would have forced local councils and British universities to do business with apartheid South Africa.

In response to the Bill, a broad coalition of more than 70 civil society organisations including Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Unite the Union, Unison, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Liberty, the Quakers, the Methodist Church, the Muslim Association of Britain and Na’amod: UK Jews Against the Occupation — has come together and consistently called on MPs and peers to vote against this dangerous proposal.

The TUC, the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd in Wales have also expressed their firm opposition. Now there is a chance to ensure that it never becomes law.

This is a big test for Labour. Once an election has been called, the government has a final push to save outstanding legislation that has not yet completed its parliamentary stages — a process known as “wash-up.” 

Achieving this at short notice requires co-operation from the opposition. With just one day left, the draconian Anti-Boycott Bill, which aims to shield Israel from democratic criticism over human rights abuses and violations of international law, can now only pass if Starmer is willing to help to push it through.

In recent weeks, the Labour Party has tried to tailor its messages on Gaza, fearful of losing votes in response to Starmer’s opposition to a ceasefire and previous support for Israel’s siege which has cut off supplies of food, water, fuel and medicines from the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

Whether or not Starmer decides to use his power to block the Anti-Boycott Bill will seen as a measure of what he might do in government. It will be watched by many and will help to inform their choices in the forthcoming general election.

You can write to Starmer to demand that he blocks the Anti-Boycott Bill using this online tool provided by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign: https://tinyurl.com/antiboycottbill

Peter Leary is deputy director of campaigns at Palestine Solidarity Campaign.