IBMT representatives and supporters have briefed a group of parliamentarians on the work of the Trust and the Spanish Civil War’s legacy in Britain and Spain. It is hoped this will be the first of a series of sessions where MPs and peers can be kept informed of shared matters of interest to them and the IBMT.

Chaired by Jon Trickett, the Labour MP for Normanton and Hemsworth, the meeting on 24 June heard historian and IBMT Historical Consultant Richard Baxell talk about what happened to the International Brigade volunteers after they returned from Spain.

IBMT Chair Jim Jump went into the detail of the Trust’s commemorative and educational activities. He highlighted ongoing efforts, both in the classroom and beyond, to make sure that the story of the volunteers and the impact of Spain’s war is properly taught and understood.

‘We’re especially exciting by the IBMT Schools Project,’ he told the meeting. ‘We hope to expand on the two teaching modules for Key Stage 3 that are now available on our website.’

Jump went on to speak about Spain’s ‘memory wars’. He deplored rightwing-led Madrid City Council’s plans to build a waste facility on or near a mass grave of 450 International Brigaders, including several Britons. 

This was in contrast, he added, with the ‘positive partnership’ developed with the Catalan government to identify, in some cases with the help of family DNA, the remains of the 90 British Battalion volunteers who were killed in the Battle of the Ebro.

The meeting also heard from Michaela Tracey-Ramos, a Unison national executive member with proud part-Spanish Republican heritage. She reported on the solidarity trips to Spain she had been on with the North West Trade Union International Committee.

Both Jon Trickett and fellow Labour MP Ian Lavery (Blyth and Ashington) said they would be willing to take up in Parliament the issue of the graves of British Brigaders.

Another Labour MP, Chris Hinchliff (North East Hertfordshire), said he would like to invite an IBMT speaker to give a talk in his constituency.

Lord Richard Balfe, a Conservative peer, recalled as an MEP in the 1970s and 80s meeting descendants of Spanish monarchists who had gone into exile in Lisbon because they opposed Franco.

Jon Trickett and Ian Lavery (third and second from right), with Michaela Tracey-Ramos (right) and (from left) Jim Jump, Helen Oclee-Brown (IBMT Executive Officer) and Richard Baxell.