On the 3rd of July 2023 Michael Gove introduced his anti-Israel boycott bill, designed to stop local councils introducing their own “BDS” — boycott, divestment and sanctions — measures against Israel.
In an intervention on Lisa Nandy’s speech, Barry asked the Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities whether she thought that this Bill would have restricted the boycotts of Apartheid South Africa, which had real impact at the time - so much so that Nelson Mandela included local authorities in his thanks to the UK.
Barry is proud to have been one of 10 Labour MPs to vote against this Bill.