Protest planned before Ealing Council meeting

Ealing Council is facing criticism from Ealing Palestine Solidarity Campaign after declining to debate a petition signed by close to 5,000 residents calling on the Labour-run council to divest from companies linked to Israel’s war in Gaza at a meeting tomorrow (3 March 2026).

The group is also set to stage a protest outside Ealing Town Hall before councillors meet on Tuesday evening.

Ealing Palestine Solidarity Campaign (Ealing PSC), alongside groups including the UK Gaza Community, Ealing Trades Union Council, Amnesty UK Ealing and Stop the War Coalition West London, submitted the petition last month. The campaign is calling for what it describes as ethical and responsible investment, and says the council’s pension fund holds almost £113m in companies it claims are linked to alleged violations of international law.

Campaigners say the “emergency mobilisation” will begin at 5.45pm, ahead of the full council meeting at 7pm.

Ealing PSC had asked for the petition to be debated at the 3 March meeting. They wrote to the Mayor of Ealing, Councillor Anthony Kelly, urging him to use his discretion under the council’s petition scheme to allow the matter to be heard.

In a response to Ealing PSC, Councillor Kelly said the council’s constitution prevents debate petitions being taken at budget-setting or annual council meetings. He said: “The council’s constitution states that we cannot take debate petitions at budget setting council or annual council. This means we cannot consider your petition at the meeting in March (as it is budget setting) and May (as it is annual council).”

He added that July was “the earliest date it could possibly come to a council meeting”, but said it would not be appropriate for him to decide whether it should be debated then because the mayor usually changes in May. Councillor Kelly said: “The new mayor will need to make that decision following their appointment and prior to the meeting in July.”

In an open letter copied to all Ealing councillors, Barry Gleeson, secretary of Ealing PSC, said the group was “deeply dissatisfied and concerned” by the decision not to include the petition on the March agenda. The letter states: “The failures I have outlined simply add up to democracy delayed and democracy denied.”

Gleeson added: “Therefore we, along with our supporting organisations, will continue to seek a hearing and action and accountability from Ealing Council.”

An Ealing Council spokesperson told EALING.NEWS: “Ealing Council acknowledges receipt of the petition. In line with our established procedures and governance requirements the petition will be discussed at the next meeting where petitions are scheduled to be debated.”

Israel rejects allegations of genocide and war crimes and says its military action in Gaza is self-defence following the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023.