CRUMBRIA: 06/08/2025: EXCLUSIVE
Labour-run Cumberland wants the council out of any involvement with companies supporting Israel, including those in the county’s Local Government pension scheme.
In a boycott order leaked to the Chronic, council leader Mark Fryer has directed council chief exec Andrew Seekings to ensure that Cumberland withdraws from any companies supplying “arms to Israel”.
Cllr Fryer also wants to ensure Cumberland has no ties to companies on a list produced by the United Nations and accused of being “complicit” in human rights abuses.
That list, of more than 100, is incredibly broad and doesn’t just include weapons manufacturers. Corporate giants such as Rolls-Royce, JCB, Booking.com, TripAdvisor and Airbnb are on it.
Cllr Fryer has directed Mr Seekings to also write to neighbouring Westmorland and Furness Council; administrators of Cumbria’s Local Government Pension Scheme.
It’s valued at circa £3.4 billion and has more than 40,000 members.
Mr Fryer wants the plug pulled there too, stating: “It is our wish that the LGPS should similarly divest from companies involved in these activities.”
If the county pension fund does share Cumberland’s concerns, can it untangle itself from investments with BAE, which has a big base here? Even if it means pension members taking a hit in the back pocket?
Pro-Palestine organisations have previously compiled a list of more than 80 council pension funds that they’ve accused of holding “complicit investments” in Israel.
They claim Cumbria’s pension fund has circa £74.3 million tied up in 34 companies, from shares to investments.
Around £2.1 million of Cumbria pension fund cash is said to be invested in BAE Systems – one of Cumbria’s biggest employers. Its share price recently hit an all-time high, swelling pension fund values.
But once you start down this road, where does it stop?
If Westmorland Council follows Cumberland’s lead to its natural moral conclusion, surely any exchange of money is off-limits?
BAE is one of the largest, if not the largest, contributors to W&F of business rates, due to its sprawling estate across Barrow.
The Chronic seems to recall once hearing an unverified claim that BAE hands the Council circa £20 million a year in rates. Some will go to the Government, and a chunk is then given back to the Council.
Perhaps W&F could go one step further than Cumberland and decide, strictly on moral principles, to politely decline any such monies from the company in future?
But walking away from an earner of that magnitude might be a touch much.
Especially for the ever-so ethical Lib Dems guarding council coffers, who may feel inclined to suddenly turn a blind eye in this instance.
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