NHS staff to be banned from wearing political symbols

[Davros]

Supposedly due very much to anti semitism but hopefully it’s the end of rainbow lanyards etc
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jun/04/nhs-to-tackle-antisemitism-after-report-finds-jewish-staff-and-patients-routinely-ostracised

Its about time this was enforced 👏

https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/manchester-childrens-hospital-launches-investigation-after-family-claims-9-year-old-subject-to-vile-anti-semitism/
Antisemitism has caused a lot of fear for Jewish families using public services.

This is the law in Australia 💕 it's for everyone not just the NHS

Delighted about this.

Now the same for schools please (those dreadful rainbow/ pastel blue and pink lanyards as well as bunting, flags etc).

My Jewish relatives have never expressed this fear and some regularly use NHS services. I’ve never specifically asked them though. They are in North London/Herts in areas with probably higher Jewish population than many other areas. I hope they don’t feel like this

Good.

I’m surprised that was ever a thing. Work, especially in a public facing role should be politically and religiously neutral (unless your work/organisation is a religious or political organisation). I don’t buy into this ‘bring your whole self to work’ lark. No, only ‘bring the bit of you that does the work’ to work. What’s all we need.

@Davros yes, things are very different in other areas. The 3 Jewish families I know have left this area (rural Yorkshire) and moved to Manchester or Leeds due to antisemitism.

They should do this in the Civil Service too. No more progress pride badges / lanyards.

Amol Rahman just asking about Pride badges etc, do they get the same treatment? The man who did the study very much focussed on anti semitism and is saying that scrubs etc on political demos and political symbols is a problem and the NHS should be separated from individual’s political interests

I’d also like to see the end of pronouns in work emails. On the upside they do allow you to see very clearly which colleagues are total fuckwits.

Yes, they’re a useful red flag.

There's supposed to be a consultation, isn't there? We should watch out for it and make sure they're left in no doubt about the effect the Progress Pride lanyards etc have.

Long overdue. Time the Nolan Principles of Public were adhered to - sadly lacking in so many of our politicians and institutions Link below.

"Integrity
Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work.
Objectivity
Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias"

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life/the-7-principles-of-public-life--2

Yes this ‘bring your whole self to work’ bollocks should be debunked. Bring your work self to work and be professional ffs.

Thank you for highlighting the Nolan Principles. They do actually cover quite a range of issues I think.

Hospital, school and charity trustees will have pledged to uphold them, and people often don’t realise that they are endangering this. For example, by outsourcing ‘training’, CPD sessions or HR away days to special interest groups.

Re The BBC Radio 4 interview this morning, of the male Peer who investigated antisemitism in NHS, by male interviewer. They were both oblivious of the possibility women exist.
Nothing happens unless it happens to real humans, i.e. men.

The interviewer did venture to ask about "Pride"
(N.B. Implicitly dismissing the existence of women, in the assumption, eagerly shared by the fellow man, that Pride and the rest of the alphabet must be some harmless club of fellow men, with a range of different bedroom choices)

The author of the report stated he was a member of the Labour party, but did not think wearing political badges was appropriate in a work setting. The words "badge" and "political" and "antisemitic" were a fixation.

No other discrimination could happen to him, therefore no other discrimination mattered, or even existed.

He concluded that because Jewish (male) patients might hesitate to disclose they are Jewish, there was a possibility one of them might be offered a ham sandwich.

Therefore EDI must specifically train staff not to be antisemitic, in case Jews (translation Jewish men) were reluctant to seek NHS treatment, in fear of ham sandwiches, or in case Jewish staff (translation male ) were 'uncomfortable' with staff conversations.

At this point in the interview, a third voice (male, of course) was introduced, saying he as a member of staff had been 'uncomfortable' with colleagues' remarks, though when it was brought to attention of seniors, he was at once taken seriously. (N,B. Contrast that with the five nurses, and Peggy)

All the men could not imagine anything worse, for staff, than 'being uncomfortable' for as many days as it takes to tell senior management, who will at once intervene.

All the men could not imagine any worse horror, for patients, than being offered unwanted ham sandwiches.

The prospect of being ra p ed is not something which males need to keep in mind, for survival.

Serious fear of being in a ward or changing room with a man, or dread of having a strange man see them naked, is entirely absent from males' brain- capacity .

Why are you so surprised that a discussion about antisemitism is mostly about antisemitism? Isn't that just logical?
And don't you think that women experience antisemitism as well as men?

What is wrong with having a focus on a specific area - there's a lot of talk about failings in maternity services at the moment, but I haven't heard anybody complaing 'Yes but what about the rest of the NHS'?
Well, not yet anyway, but I'm sure somebody will🙄

Rather off-topic, I noticed when I dropped DD off at uni a few years ago that the students there to help and direct the newbies had all been given the pronouns talk. All these lovely young women were rushing about full of happiness and goodwill, and about half of them had badges with 'NAME she/her', as if I couldn't tell by bloody looking.

Not a single one of the lads (that I spotted, anyway) had bought into the bullshit.

The sooner this is crap is pulled from all our institutions, the better.

The ham sandwich example was absolutely ridiculous. There are plenty of other patients who would not want a ham sandwich either e.g. Muslims & vegetarians. Which is why patients don't just have ham sandwiches forced on them. Patients are offered a choice but refusing a ham sandwich doesn't immediately out you as Jewish (or Muslim or vegetarian).

I'm not sure a lanyard contravenes these requirements. If it does, then the display of all religious iconography will also eventually be banished.

I’m very pleased to hear this

Note that Northumbria police were told that pride flags etc were political symbols and banned from displaying them…

Trouble with removing the rainbow lanyard would be that the armed forces have one too. I am not sure how you would argue one is okay and the other isn't. My anti-fascist badge is staying put until I am told to remove it though.

Discussion on Radio 4 this lunchtime, and there seems to be a blind spot in terms of recognising that the Pride / Progress flag absolutely IS a political symbol. The lack of awareness is shocking. Unless it's a deliberate ploy, of course.

Does this mean fire engines can go back to being red and not rainbow coloured?!