CORNWALL Council’s Conservative leader has categorically denied that the local authority is complicit in genocide in Gaza following a number of questions from members of the public concerning its pensions and investments.

The comments came after a large gathering paid homage outside County Hall/Lys Kernow in Truro yesterday (Tuesday, April 15) to at least 17,400 Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since October 2023. Those taking part read the names of several hundred children under the age of one who are among the victims.

They also delivered a letter to councillors arriving for the final full council meeting before the May 1 elections, calling on them to “recognise their collective moral and legal duty to uphold international humanitarian law and ensure that the council avoids any situation in which it could be seen as complicit in these crimes, either through its investments or through any individual providing official representation on behalf of Cornwall”.

In May 2024, Lord John Hutton was appointed as chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Economic Forum, in which role he acts as an “ambassador for Cornwall’s business community”.

Lord Hutton is the chair and non-executive director of Pearson Engineering, a military equipment manufacturer which those taking part in the vigil highlighted is wholly owned by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd, which in turn is owned and overseen by the Israeli Ministry of Defence.

During public questions, the council was asked: “In light of the ongoing genocide enacted in Gaza and the ICC’s recognition of its criminality, will the council demand that Lord Hutton resign his directorship of the Israel-owned military supplier Pearson Engineering as a precondition for his continued leadership of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Economic Forum?”

Council leader Cllr Linda Taylor, who retires on election day, responded: “I would like to make it clear that Cornwall Council does not endorse or support genocide in Gaza or anywhere else. I would like to remind everyone that UK foreign policy is not within the remit of Cornwall Council.

“I am aware that the previous monitoring officer was in touch with Lord Hutton earlier in the year when this issue was first raised and has received assurances that Pearson Engineering does not and never has provided any military equipment to the Israeli defence forces for use in Gaza or anywhere else.

“Any suggestion that Pearson is involved in any actions that might be considered unlawful either under international public law or under UK law is completely without foundation.”

She added: “Lord Hutton has a clearly defined role in the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Economic Forum and we are grateful that he is able to bring his expertise and qualities to the forum as chair. I have every confidence that he will continue to make a valuable contribution to the forum and what it seeks to achieve.

“The monitoring officer has advised me that Lord Hutton’s personal business interests are a matter for him and the assurance Lord Hutton has provided is welcome. The activities of the economic forum are in no way related to the conflict in Gaza and it is absolutely not accepted having Lord Hutton as the chair means the council is providing tacit social licence for genocide.”

Cllr Taylor said that she categorically refuted the suggestion that the council is complicit in genocide.

A number of public questions were also asked about the council’s pension investments in supposed connection to funding arms to Israel. They included:

“In the light of the ongoing mass slaughter of Palestinian civilians by the Israeli army, how does this council morally justify its ongoing investments, using its citizens’ council tax payments in arms to Israel without their knowledge or consent?”

“In the light of our local MPs’ grave concern at actions by the Israeli Government and defence forces, will the council review its policies on pensions investment and official representation to ensure it is not complicit in genocide?”

“This council is currently investing some of my council tax in companies enabling illegal acts of genocide in Gaza. Do councillors agree that it is ok to use public funds in this way?”

Cllr Mike Thomas, chair of the council’s pension committee, replied to the questions.

He said: “Cornwall Council administers the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) in Cornwall and Cornwall Council is one of 145 employers who make pension contributions into the fund for its employees, as part of the employees overall remuneration. Therefore, the information provided in this response is in relation to the Cornwall Pension Fund, not Cornwall Council.

“The Cornwall Pension Fund is highly regulated and acts within its legal and fiduciary duties. It has a legal duty to provide for members’ benefits, whose monies the pension fund is and must exercise its power of investment for investment purposes, having a diversified investment portfolio and doing what is best for the financial position of the fund. These are not council investments.”

He added: “As part of the Brunel Pension Partnership, we do not invest in controversial weapons and we expect all of our fund managers to invest in line with the United Nations Global Compact. We also insist that companies comply with all legal requirements and the duty to respect all internationally recognised human rights, including the obligations of the Modern Slavery Act in the UK and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business Human Rights.

“Through its equity and bond holdings, at December 31, 2024, the fund had 0.34 per cent of its diversified investment portfolio in the aerospace and defence sector. We live in a highly globalised world where supply chains are often extremely complex, with large multi-national companies generating revenue streams from a wide variety of activities and sources, including from companies operating in the UK and NATO member countries.”