Edinburgh /PNN /
A petition launched by former scout leader Pete Gregson to UK Chief Scout Bear Grylls has rapidly gained over 1,000 signatures in just a month on the popular platform Change.org. Gregson, who served as the treasurer for the 150th Craigalmond Scout Group, was expelled following his affiliation with the Campaign Against Bogus Antisemitism (CABA). This development has sent shockwaves through the scout community, given that he holds the esteemed Chief Scout's award from Grylls.
Gregson's expulsion has ignited debates over the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Definition of Antisemitism, a guideline often used to assess instances of anti-Jewish sentiment, including criticisms of Israel. Notably, Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss of Neturei Karta, a respected religious leader, has publicly expressed his support for Gregson, emphasizing that Pete "is in no way anti-Jewish."
Having devoted an impressive decade of volunteer service, Gregson claims he has never introduced his personal politics into any of the scout meetings. The expulsion process unfolded following a complaint, leading to his suspension, which eventually culminated in his expulsion after a year, leaving him with no interview or the opportunity to provide his side of the story.
The situation originated from an advertisement that Gregson placed on behalf of the 150th Committee back in 2017, seeking volunteers for the committee. His personal landline phone number was included as a contact for additional information. The advert received minimal interest and was subsequently taken down after a few months. However, five years later, in March 2022, a complaint was filed, suggesting that the same phone number appeared on the CABA Facebook page. This prompt led to immediate suspension, and on the 30th of June, 2023, he was officially expelled.
Gregson's involvement within the scout community was substantial, encompassing responsibilities such as attending executive meetings, managing finances, overseeing payments for youth leader expenses, participating in fundraising efforts at fetes, preparing and submitting accounts for the scout group's charity registration, handling Gift Aid claims from parents via HMRC, organizing AGMs, and coordinating festive events like Christmas sing-a-longs.
In response to his expulsion, Gregson has taken the initiative to seek reinstatement through a petition available for viewing at www.change.org/scoutihra. Additionally, he has formally lodged an appeal with the National Scout Safeguarding Officer, making a plea for a reconsideration of the decision.
Gregson has voiced his astonishment at the Scouts' apparent interest in his political affiliations. He cited the World Scout Committee's statement on human rights issues issued in March 2010, which underscored their "unequivocal adherence to the principles of human rights expressed in the UN Declaration." Central to these principles is Article 19, which states "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers." Gregson argues that the UK Scout Association's actions appear to be in violation of both his human rights and the World Scout Committee's declarations. He maintains that he is entitled to his political views, which he has never articulated within the scouting environment.
