Defence minister to lay wreath at AJEX parade
David Lammy confirms Lord Vernon Coaker will attend Nov 16 ceremony as he responds to question from Bob Blackman MP at PMQs
Defence Minister Lord Vernon Coaker will be “proud” to lay a wreath on behalf of the government at this month’s annual AJEX parade and ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, MPs have been told.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, standing in for Keir Starmer at Prime Ministers’ Questions, said Coaker’s appearance at the ceremony on November 16 would show the UK’s “enduring gratitude to generations of Jewish services personnel and veterans.”
Lammy added he wished to thank the Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women for organising the event, and for the work they do throughout the year in “keeping alive the memory of Jewish people, many of whom are in my constituency, the descendants of my constituents in Stamford Hill, who gave their lives for this country.”
The Deputy PM and Justice Minister was responding to a question from Bob Blackman, the Conservative MP for Harrow.
Blackman noted that next weekend’s Remember Sunday would honour those who make “the ultimate sacrifice,” and that the following weekend would be the AJEX parade, at which “Jewish men, women and children come together,” and veterans would wear medals from World War II and the Great War.
The MP said that with antisemitism on the rise, it would be particularly important for a government minister to attend that ceremony and “lay a wreath on behalf of the country to remember the Jewish people who gave their lives for this country so we can all be free.”
In an obvious mistake, the Deputy Prime Minister was not wearing the symbol of remembrance when he began taking questions in the House of Commons at midday.
He later borrowed a poppy pin badge from another Labour MP, which Lammy then attached to his jacket during the session.
In his response to Blackman, Lammy said he had brought a new suit for PMQs, becoming the first Black MP to do so.
He said, “I bought a new suit this morning because my godmother said she would be watching.
“I am very grateful to the honourable member for Sunderland South for ensuring that, despite wearing a new suit, I have managed to put my poppy on.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
