Lambeth Votes Palestine – Lib Dems call out government inaction over genocide, but won’t sign the full pledge
Liberal Democrat spokesperson Chris Nicholson has given Brixton Buzz a full and substantive response on the Palestine Pledge – condemning Israel’s genocide, calling out continued UK arms sales and government …
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Liberal Democrat spokesperson Chris Nicholson has given Brixton Buzz a full and substantive response on the Palestine Pledge – condemning Israel’s genocide, calling out continued UK arms sales and government inaction – but explaining why the group can’t go the full hog and sign the Pledge for Palestine.
A respected Liberal Democrat figure and former Leader of Kingston Council, Nicholson speaking on behalf of the party, was at pains to make a number of points:
Firstly he pointed out that Lib Dem leader Ed Davey has been clear that a genocide is taking place against the Palestinian people – while other voices in Westminster, he said, had remained “dangerously silent.”
On the situation on the ground, he described the post-October 2025 ceasefire as having failed to bring safety to Palestinians: hundreds have reportedly been killed since it came into force, international NGOs have been deregistered and forced to halt operations in the occupied territories, and Donald Trump’s ‘peace plan’ raises serious concerns about Palestinian self-determination.
Turning to UK government action, Nicholson said weapons exports to Israel must end, including F-35 parts, and that trade with illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories should be prohibited.
He called for targeted sanctions for breaches of international law and the full restoration of humanitarian access to Gaza.
On the longer term, he said any lasting peace must be based on a two-state solution on 1967 borders.
“I will always condemn terrorism, stand against genocide, the collective punishment and the targeting of civilians, and support human rights, dignity, and security for both Palestinians and Israelis alike.”
– Chris Nicholson, Liberal Democrat spokesperson and candidate, Clapham Common & Abbeville.
We asked Nicholson why, when numbers of Liberal Democrat candidates across the country had been signing the pledge, none of those standing in Lambeth had. He told us that “complexities regarding legalities and fiduciary duties in relation to local government pensions which I would need to understand and on which I would need to receive advice.”
He added:
“For reasons to do with the not so distant history of our party, we are careful only to commit to pledges which we are 100% certain we can deliver.”
As reported in yesterday’s Lambeth Votes Palestine article, we asked the local Labour and Conservative parties why none of their candidates had signed the pledge. We have had no response from Labour, while a Conservative spokesperson made the following statement:
“This year’s elections are about local issues here in Lambeth.
Accordingly Lambeth Conservative Candidates are focused on improving Lambeth, together with residents, and ensuring that Lambeth Labour suffers the defeat at the ballot box it very much deserves after years of taking residents for granted.”
– Harry Todd, agent for Lambeth Conservatives.
