Liz Truss accuses the civil service of ‘wokeism that strays into antisemitism’

Liz Truss has accused the civil service of having a “woke culture that strays into antisemitism”, sparking an angry backlash in Whitehall.

The Foreign Secretary made the remarks in a press release on Friday, which outlined her plans to protect the British Jewish community.

She pledged to “boost links between the UK and Israel” including by securing a free trade deal between the two countries.

The Tory leadership frontrunner also made a vow to “protect British Jewry from creeping antisemitism and wokeism”.

Referring to the civil service, she said: “Every organisation has its culture, but it’s not fixed, it can be changed.

“That’s what ministerial leadership is about: it’s about making sure that the policies we represent, the values we stand for, are reflected in what we do.

“I’ve been very clear with our officials about the positions we take on Israel, and that will continue if I become prime minister.”

‘Insulting and abhorrent’

Her remarks prompted a furious response from the FDA union, which represents almost 20,000 public sector workers.

“She provides no evidence for her accusation that many civil servants will find both insulting and abhorrent,” said Dave Penman, its general secretary.

“Truss’s accusation of antisemitism goes further than the usual dog-whistle politics that has been on display during this leadership campaign when it comes to the civil service.

“A prime minister is also minister for the Civil Service and throwing around such unfounded inflammatory accusations illustrates a lack of leadership, the very thing that she claims to be demonstrating.”

He added that Ms Truss has been a minister for almost a decade and “accusations of ‘civil service wokeism’ are a little ironic, given it’s essentially a criticism of her own leadership.”

Steven Littlewood, the FDA’s assistant general secretary, said the Foreign Secretary’s remarks represented “a new low” in the “tiresome attacks” on Whitehall.

He revealed many civil servants “have already been in touch to say how upsetting and insulting they find this latest evidence-free accusation”.

“Accusations of cultural racism in our institutions of government are serious allegations and shouldn't be made without evidence, and certainly not for culture war point-scoring.”

Mike Clancy, the general secretary of the Prospect trade union, said: “Antisemitism and racism in any form are deplorable and must be eradicated.

“After twelve years of this government and eight years for Liz Truss in the cabinet, she 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. This smacks more of further attempts to undermine public services rather than focus on the job of serving the public.”

Charlotte Nichols, the Labour MP for Warrington North, accused Ms Truss of “using the Jewish community as a spurious pretext for another baseless attack on the civil service”.

Sam Freedman, who worked as an adviser for Michael Gove between 2010 and 2013, said he had “never once experienced any antisemitism” in the civil service.

Adam Schwarz, who worked for an MoD-sponsored body between 2015 and 2018, added: “I was a Jew in the public sector…and engaged with the Civil Service on a daily basis.

“I never once encountered anti-semitism. It was an exceptionally multicultural and tolerant environment. Inaccurate, exploitative & shameful comments. Liz Truss should apologise.”

In her press release, the Foreign Secretary set out a four-point plan she would enact to support British Jews if she becomes Prime Minister.

She pledged to “review whether schools are doing enough to educate pupils and teachers about antisemitism” and “rid university campuses” of it.

Ms Truss mentioned “always taking steps to protect the family unit” and “the value of hard work and self-starting and setting up your own business” as “Jewish values”.

The Foreign Secretary’s allies also took aim at Sir Keir Starmer and appeared to equate his leadership with that of Jeremy Corbyn.

A source in her camp said: “The Labour Party under Sir Keir Starmer and his colleague Jeremy Corbyn has been a talking shop for antisemitism and antizionism.

“This has increased anxieties within the Jewish community.”

On Thursday, Ms Truss gave an interview to the Jewish Chronicle in which she said she had to “overrule” foreign office officials on policy regarding Israel.

She said some mandarins had expressed concerns her approach would leave Britain “isolated” even though she was sure it was “the right thing to do”.

The Foreign Secretary referred to the UN Human Rights Council, which she previously said had been used by some countries to “level unwarranted criticism at Israel”.