United Kingdom Prime Ministerial candidate, Liz Truss has been accused of offensive comments, after her campaign set out a plan to protect Jews from “creeping anti-Semitism and wokeism” in the Public Service.
Ms Truss (pictured) was accused of using Jewish people and anti-Semitism to make a political point, after she published a plan that targets “woke Civil Service culture that strays into anti-Semitism”.
Two Public Service unions, the FDA and Prospect, condemned her for suggesting Public Service culture was anti-Semitic, while a leading rabbi also questioned her remarks.
Ms Truss questioned whether schools were doing enough to educate pupils and teachers about anti-Semitism and said she would rid university campuses of anti-Jewish hatred.
Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner challenged Ms Truss’ approach of criticising the Public Service.
“I’ve had lots of experience of the Civil Service and my experience is of people who profoundly care about anti-Semitism,” Rabbi Janner-Klausner said.
“I wouldn’t want anti-Semitism to be to be misused to attack Civil Servants,” he said.
“That actually turns Jews into instruments of someone’s additional agenda.”
General Secretary of the FDA union, which represents senior bureaucrats, Dave Penman called the comments “insulting and abhorrent”.
General Secretary of Prospect, Mike Clancy said Ms Truss “should have a better grip on both the evidence and facts about what is happening in the Civil Service”.
“If there is evidence, she should publish it,” Mr Clancy said.
London, 13 August 2022
