The intended legislation, which had been a Conservative Party commitment in its 2019 election manifesto, would have prevented public bodies such as local councils or universities divesting from countries against Foreign Office policy.
It contained specific protection for Israel, which would have required amendment or repeal by Parliament to alter.
Writing in the JC 11 months ago Levelling-Up Secretary Michael Gove, who was the prime move behind the Bill, said, "This will put a stop to Israeli businesses and organisations being targeted through ongoing boycotts by public bodies at a time when antisemitism, the oldest hatred, continues to be a terrible scourge on our society. I hope this will help ease community tensions.”
While the Bill had passed comfortably in the Commons, it was still under discussion at committee stage ahead of a third reading in the Lords when the election call came.
It was opposed by Labour, although the party said it did not support BDS, and a number of Conservative MPs, who included the chair of the foreign affairs committee, Alicia Kearns.
The Bill was backed by the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council but the Union of Jewish Students and a number of Jewish youth movements came out against it.
