• Former Scottish Police Federation Secretary Joe Grant relinquishes his MBE in protest against the UK Government’s stance on the Israeli invasion of Gaza.
• The global outcry over the bloodbath in Gaza, includes the same public sentiment in the UK, depicting a huge disparity between government policy and the masses in international affairs.
In a powerful protest, Joe Grant, former general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, has voluntarily relinquished his Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) title, conferred upon him in 2009. This symbolic gesture is a response to the UK Government’s stance on the Israeli invasion of Gaza. Frustrated by the government’s silence and efforts to suppress protests, Grant felt compelled to make a principled stand.
Following his retirement and relocation to South Africa in the same year he received the MBE, the former police chief raises concerns about the escalating criminalisation of dissent and protests in Scotland and the UK. Specifically, he draws attention to the case of Mick Napier from the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, who is currently facing charges under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Grant likened the act of returning his MBE to a childhood protest, reminiscent of sending a blanket square to the then-imprisoned Nelson Mandela. While the MBE holds personal significance, it now serves as a symbol he deems essential to relinquish.
Initially facing challenges, Grant encountered difficulty in returning the MBE, but eventually, he received permission to return the medal and discontinue using the title. Despite this, his name will persist on the honor roll. This process highlights the intricate nature of navigating traditional honour systems, especially when intertwined with contentious political matters.
The bloodbath in Gaza has provoked global indignation. South Africa has rightfully accused Israel of genocide at The Hague. In contrast, the UK’s Foreign Secretary David Cameron, months into the conflict, called for a ‘sustainable ceasefire,’ a statement that has done little to pacify the escalating discontent and protests, exemplified by Grant’s actions.
The Cabinet Office refrains from commenting on individual honours recipients, emphasising the disparity between government policy and the stance of the masses in matters of international affairs.
