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Fire Brigades Union tells official to dial back social media use after controversial tweet
Paul Embery was criticised by a Jewish MP for comment about 'a rootless, cosmopolitan, bohemian middle-class'
April 9, 2019 14:35
Paul Embery was criticised by a Jewish MP for comment about 'a rootless, cosmopolitan, bohemian middle-class'
April 9, 2019 14:35The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has asked a senior official to suspend his social media activity after a controversial tweet that used an antisemitic trope.
On Sunday evening, FBU Executive Council member Paul Embery tweeted to quote folk singer Mike Harding, saying: “‘A nation is not a home.’ I fear this encapsulates the divide in our society – between a rootless, cosmopolitan, bohemian middle-class…and a rooted, communitarian, patriotic working-class”.
Many were quick to criticise Mr Embery’s use of “rootless, cosmopolitan”, including Jewish MP Alex Sobel who tweeted: “Literally an anti-semitic trope used by Stalin the culmination of which saw many good bundists imprisoned by East European Communist regimes (including my grandfather)…stop othering Jews”.
Literally an anti-semitic trope used by Stalin the culmination of which saw many good bundists imprisoned by East European Communist regimes (including my grandfather) just what I needed to see after the @JewishLabour AGM. Stop othering Jews pic.twitter.com/EqCFc3nWDZ
Mr Embery later tweeted that he used the words “innocently” and that “most normal people aren’t obsessive students of obscure communist history.
He added: "So if they use words that a long-dead communist leader once used in a derogatory manner, they probably aren’t intended to be heard in the same way.”
In a statement, FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack said: “The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is opposed to all forms of racism, including antisemitism. Racism in all its forms weakens and undermines trade unionism.
"The FBU has a longstanding history of standing up to and challenging racism. These traditions are not reflected in the recent comments made by someone who is an official of the FBU, whether this was done knowingly or not.
"We sincerely regret the use of this phrase by an FBU official, and have requested that the person in question ceases all activity on social media until our Executive Council is able to meet to discuss.
"The FBU will deal with any potential abuse of policy in accordance with our organisational rules.”
The FBU has yet to confirm when the Executive Council meeting will take place.
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