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Starmer urged to cut Labour’s links to trade unions that support the PSC

The pro-Palestinian organisation has been a important force behind the anti-Israel protests

November 3, 2023 17:10
UNnite Palestine protest
T8FN4B National Demonstration for Palestine, Unite the Union banner and flags in support of Palestine, London, UK 11/05/2019
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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is being urged to end his party’s affiliation to trade unions that support the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), the main organisers of ongoing protests that have seen calls for an "intifada from London to Gaza". 

A letter to Starmer organised by Campaign Against Antisemitism and signed by its Chief Executive Gideon Falter, JK Rowling’s literary agent Neil Blair, film producer Lisa Bryer, Countdown presenter Rachel Riley and actor Tracy-Ann Oberman, asks him to “demonstrate leadership” by requiring Labour-affiliated unions to withdraw support from the PSC.

“If they refuse,” the letter goes on, “we ask that you make clear they should no longer be affiliated to Labour.” 

At present, seven of the 13 directors of the limited company that runs the PSC are serving or retired union officials, including two from Unite. The union is affiliated to the Labour Party, although since Starmer became leader in 2019 it has cut its funding to the party and threatened to withdraw it altogether.