Regarding the Wycombe Palestine Solidarity Campaign group
All Labour candidates were invited by the Wycombe Palestine Solidarity Campaign to join them on 18th February 2025 for a discussion about the situation in Gaza. Many attended. Their focus was on a boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign, with the emphasis on divestment.
Subsequently, candidates were sent a link to an online PSC form. There was a deadline of 4th April for responses. Following this, candidates would be categorized by the PSC as Red, Amber or Green depending on their response and this would be disseminated to their members.
Wycombe Labour responded with a single statement:
Thank you for the invitation sent to all Wycombe Labour candidates. We have taken advice and collectively have the following statement for you. None of the candidates will be responding individually.
The Labour Party supports any ceasefire and the government’s goal is a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, alongside a safe and secure Israel.
Should any of us be elected to Buckinghamshire Council we will, in line with Labour policy, endeavour to campaign for the Buckinghamshire Pension Fund to make sure that all its investments comply with government sanctions and international obligations, and to meet its ethical requirements.
On behalf of the following Labour candidates: Zafer Ali, Hazel Arthur-Hewitt, Karen Bates, Ian Bates, Karen Carter, Alex Charilaou, Chris Chilton, Adam Eveleigh, Johnathan Guy, Steve Guy, Majid Hussain, Philippe Lefevre, Karl Newton, Henry Oriabure, Michelle Parry, Fizza Shah, Amanda Whyte, Julie Wilkinson
It is worth noting that prior to this, on 17th November 2023, Cllr Majid Hussain submitted a motion to Buckinghamshire Council:
In High Wycombe we have seen a significant increase in Antisemitism and Islamophobia, with over hundreds of comments and tags of a racist offensive antisemitic or Islamophobic nature since the 7th of October. We must not allow the tragic events in the Middle East to divide our communities in Buckinghamshire. We understand and feel the pain of all the people in Buckinghamshire, especially the Muslim and Jewish communities.
This council condemns those who have used this crisis to whip up hatred and sow division and spread misinformation in our county.
An immediate and sustainable ceasefire is needed, so that aid can get into Gaza.
The hostages should be freed, and work must take place to de-escalate this horrific conflict. Save the Children have highlighted that more children have been reported killed in this conflict than total annual number of children killed across the world’s conflict zones since 2019. This is a truly shocking state of affairs. The international community has a responsibility to work towards a peace process and two-state solution.
We call on the council to call for immediate ceasefire.
The response from Democratic Services was to reject the motion as it was outside of the remit of the council as set out in the Constitution.