By the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign

Over 14,000 people have now signed a petition urging the UK to give back over 30 tonnes of Venezuelan gold to Venezuela, which is currently being held in the Bank of England, despite the Latin American nation requesting its return. The gold currently has a value of £3.5bn (or US $4.74 bn.)

There has been a significant increase in support for the petition, initiated by the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign, in light of the disastrous earthquakes which recently took place. At the time of writing, official figures say over 4,000 people have now died and there have been nearly 17,000 injuries.

Members of Parliament alongside leading figures from Britain’s trade union, peace and solidarity movements have backed the petition and added their support.

Richard Burgon MP, who has also tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament in support of giving back  the gold, said: “At a time of such profound human suffering, every available resource should be directed towards humanitarian relief and reconstruction in Venezuela. I therefore call on the Government to take immediate steps to facilitate the release of Venezuela’s gold so that these resources can be used for reconstruction and the recovery of communities devastated by this disaster.”

Diane Abbott MP commented: “There is devastation from the earthquake in Venezuela. Britain continues to illegally withhold the country’s gold reserves when all its resources are urgently needed. This scandal must end and the Bank of England must immediately return Venezuela’s gold.”

John McDonnell MP further commented, “At this critical time one of the most effective measures the UK government could undertake to assist Venezuela tackle the tragic consequences of the earthquake is to return the Venezuelan gold it is holding. This would hugely aid both addressing the immediate needs of the people and the reconstruction programme that will be needed.”

On behalf of the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign, Matt Willgress added, “The demand to give back the gold is finding growing support in Britain, just as the demand to end all inhumane sanctions is growing in the US and internationally. We must keep standing in solidarity with the people of Venezuela.”

This month, Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodriguez wrote to the UK asking the gold to be returned. In May, Venezuelan Government Minister William Castillo made a major presentation on the effect of sanctions on Venezuela, arguing that the “call and demand from Venezuela as a nation, not just as a government [is] that all sanctions against the country be lifted.”

Sign the petition here.