Kingston Council will conduct a review of its pension fund investments following concerns that some holdings may be linked to human rights violations. The decision came after a petition, signed by over 1,500 residents, called for the council to divest from companies allegedly complicit in such violations in Palestine and throughout the world. The petition presenter, Sonu Saeed, stated that Kingston's pension fund holds around 60 million pounds of investments in companies that are complicit in violating human rights.

The council meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, saw a lengthy debate on the issue, culminating in a cross-party agreement to establish a task force to examine the pension fund's investments. The motion was moved by Councillor James Giles, Leader of the Opposition, and seconded by Councillor Andreas Kirsch, Leader of the Council.

Sonu Saeed, who presented the petition (available in Appendix B of the Public Reports Pack), highlighted that the council's current investments included companies that are complicit in violating human rights, such as arms manufacturers Lockheed Martin and Leonardo, Israeli government bonds, and Palantir. He argued that these investments contradicted the council's own responsible investment policy, which prioritises human rights.

Councillor Patrick Hall, Chair of Kingston's Pension Fund Panel, said that the council first introduced an ethical investment strategy in 2018, and that this was constantly reviewed. Councillor Alison Holt said that she would ensure that the panel reviews the policy again and ask for the formal review is carried out on all the exposure to arms companies.

Councillor Kirsch promised that the council would do a thorough review of its pension fund and ethical investment strategy. He also noted that the council no longer holds any Israeli government bonds in its pension fund.

The council resolved to:

  1. Establish a cross-party task and finish group to conduct a full, urgent and transparent review of all pension fund investments, including those held via the London CIV, to identify holdings in companies allegedly complicit in violations of international law and human rights in Palestine and throughout the world. The task force will identify holdings in companies allegedly complicit in violations of international law and human rights in Palestine and throughout the world.
  2. Instruct the task and finish group to make recommendations to the pension fund panel. The council will instruct the task and finish group to make recommendations to the pension fund panel.
  3. Commit to full transparency by writing to all petitioners following the pension fund's review of the task and finish recommendations.
  4. Refer the outcome of the task and finish group to the pension fund panel in time for their meeting on 17 September 2025. The council agreed to refer the outcome of the task and finish group to the pension fund panel in time for their meeting on the 17th of September, 2025. Residents can expect to hear back after this date.

The council's decision reflects a growing trend among local authorities to consider the ethical implications of their investments. Several other London councils, including Waltham Forest, Islington, Tower Hamlets, and Lucian, have already voted to divest from companies involved in human rights abuses.

The full minutes of the meeting are available on the Kingston Council website. Further information on the petition can be found in Appendix B of the Public Reports Pack.