Business Secretary demands trade union ends ties with Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Controversy over union's affiliation

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch has written to Unite chief Sharon Graham, urging the trade union to sever its ties with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC). Badenoch expressed her dismay that Unite can endorse an organization whose views promote anti-Semitism and violence. The PSC is listed as one of Unite's affiliated campaign groups, and the union attended their conference last year.

Pressure on Labour leader to take action

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls to suspend MP Apsana Begum from the party after she was photographed with the PSC over the weekend. Unite, which has 1.2 million members across multiple sectors, has donated nearly £5 million to various Labour entities since Starmer became party leader in 2020. Some are now calling for a review of Labour's funding from Unite in light of the current situation.

Calls to hold union accountable

Tory MP Brendan Clarke-Smith has condemned the violence in Israel and called on Labour to hold their union paymasters accountable for funding extremist campaign groups. Clarke-Smith argues that the Labour Party should immediately review its links to these organizations.