UKIP is claiming victory after a U-turn by Labour in Dudley Council’s bid to impose sanctions on Israel.

A full meeting of the authority next Monday (December 1) was set to debate a motion which would prevent the council from buying goods or services which would benefit the Jewish state.

The motion, proposed by Cllr Qadar Zada, called for the council to select suppliers in a way which would make difference to people locally and beyond, it also included a resolution to cease procurement which would benefit the state of Israel.

The motion has now been deferred after criticism from opposition groups and a challenge by UKIP to its legality.

UKIP’s Dudley Coucil group leader, Cllr Paul Brothwood, said: “It is almost certainly illegal. It transgresses the council’s legal responsibility to seek best value in its procurement policies and introduces discriminatory conditions which may result in the borough receiving poorer value for money than it might otherwise receive.

“Also, it is highly likely that it breaches equal opportunities legislation because it discriminates against suppliers on the grounds of nationality.”

UKIP Cllr Bill Etheridge added: “It is a humiliating climbdown we have stopped the loony left juggernaut, they pushed this motion through ahead of two of ours on local issues.”

Cllr Etheridge also took a swipe at Cllr Pete Lowe who, after becoming the new leader of Dudley’s Labour group last night, will be elected council leader at Monday’s meeting.

Clle Etheridge said: “Comrade Lowe has had a bad day, it is a U-turn before he has even started the engine.”

Cllr Zada is yet to comment on the decision to defer his motion.