TUC president to speak latest London Palestine rally in a personal capacity
Elected new TUC president last month, Matt Wrack, also the general secretary of the FBU, will speak at the National Demonstration for Palestine in Marble Arch, central London on Saturday
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
New Trades Union Congress (TUC) president Matt Wrack is among the list of scheduled speakers for this weekend’s latest pro-Palestine demonstration that have sparked anger and concern with the UK’s Jewish community.
But Jewish News understands that Wrack, will speak at the National Demonstration for Palestine in Marble Arch,central London in a personal capacity, and not as spokesperson for the entire TUC.
Wrack was elected TUC president last month, a largely ceremonial role, but one that sees him preside over the annual Congress in September 2024 and chair the union organisation’s general council and executive committee.
Following the horrific explosion outside a Gaza hospital on Tuesday, Wrack was among those to quickly blame Israel for the incident that left hundreds dead, even though both the IDF and US president Joe Biden have publicly blamed the tragedy on a miss-fired rocket by Islamic Jihad.
But a statement put out by the TUC themselves after the October 7th terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel was left one-sided stating:”The TUC has unequivocally condemned the brutal attacks and murder of Israeli civilians by Hamas. We call for the immediate, unconditional release of all hostages unharmed.
“Neither the killing of Israeli civilians by Hamas nor the collective punishment of the people of Gaza by the Israeli government will do anything to end the occupation or bring about peace.”
The World Health Organisation has condemned Israeli attack on a hospital in Gaza.
All decent people will also condemn it.
Targeting civilians – by anyone in an armed conflict – is a war crime.
This should be obvious to British politicians. Why the silence?#Gaza#WarCrime https://t.co/ebe4C9OGme
— Matt Wrack (@MattWrack) October 17, 2023
Jewish News understands that Wrack’s decision to speak at Saturday’s protest has sparked some concerns within the national trade union organisation which includes 48 affiliated unions, with a total of about 5.5 million members.
It is not known if he will be speaking at Saturday’s event as a representative of the FBU, for who he is general secretary.
Senior figures have stressed the positive work the TUC, and other major unions, including GMB and Unite have done in recent years over recognising and combating antisemitism.
There are concerns that Wrack’s decision to speak at the latest Palestine rally could be misconstrued as a return to the bad old days when relations between some unions of the Jewish community were poor.
Luke Akehurst, director of the grassroots campaign group We Believe In Israel told Jewish News:”It’s very disappointing that any senior role holder from any trade union would agree to speak at what is basically an anti-Israel rally at a time when Israelis, British Jews and all decent people are traumatised, mourning the horrific murders of 1300 Israelis by Hamas, horror stricken by details of torture by the terrorists, and praying for the safe return of over 200 innocent hostages.”
Labour leader Keir Starmer has instructed all MPs and councillors not to speak at the rallies, and has also advised them not to attend, citing party “values.”
Last month, Jewish News reported on how the Israeli trade union organisation the Histadrut have been involved in a successful event staged at this year’s annual TUC congress in Liverpool.
Other campaign groups to back the Palestine rallies taking place in London and other cities since October 7th include the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) and the Palestinian Forum for Britain (PFB).
Last Saturday’s event saw a minority of demonstrators fail to distance themselves from condemning the Hamas terrorist atrocity on Israel, while a further vigil outside Downing Street on Wednesday, saw one speaker attack the UK media for publishing “lies” about the October 7th attack.
The Community Security Trust have been among the communal groups to express concern about the staging of the Palestine rallies, although calls for the police to ban the demos seem unlikely to succeed.
A CST spokesperson said:”Given the context of the appalling Hamas terror attack last week, there are serious questions to be asked about whether mass gatherings and demonstrations praising ‘resistance’, giving the impression of support for Hamas and their actions, ought to be taking place at all.
“We certainly expect the policing of these demonstrations to be as robust as possible and arrests made wherever and whenever people break the law.”
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