The British Medical Association (BMA) has voted to drop the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, saying it had a “chilling effect” on free speech in the workplace.

Doctors from across Britain backed the motion at the BMA’s annual conference on Tuesday, amid growing concerns that healthcare workers are being punished for expressing views on international conflicts.

The motion called on the doctors’ union to “provide urgent guidance and support to members who face disciplinary action or professional detriment for expressing legitimate political views or ethical concerns about international conflicts, including Palestine/Israel”.