Ban on Public Bodies Boycotting Israel Clears the Commons Despite Tory Rebellion

The government’s plan to ban public bodies from boycotting Israeli goods has cleared the Commons on Wednesday despite a rebellion by a number of former Tory ministers. The Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill passed a third reading in the Commons by 282 votes to 233 and will now go to the Lords. Eight Conservative MPs voted against the bill along with opposition parties, including Foreign Affairs Committee chair Alicia Kearns; Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee chair William Wragg, and former ministers George Eustice, Kit Malthouse, and Vicky Ford. If the bill becomes law, it will ban public bodies from boycotting goods and services from any foreign territory over political or moral reasons except those exempted by ministers....