They will debate the need for a boycott of Israeli goods in response to the Middle-Eastern state’s treatment of the Palestinian population of Gaza and the West Bank.

Liverpool TUC spokesman Alec McFadden said: “We have proposals for an economic boycott of Israel because of their participation in the persecution of the Palestinian people. Merseyside TUC have been the leaders in pushing for a boycott until they come to their senses.

“We have the greatest of sympathy with what has happened to the Jews but can’t condone what the Israeli government is doing to the Palestinians.”

Mr McFadden added that a strong theme of this year’s conference would be how to tackle unemployment, which now affects around 2.5m people across the country. Other highlights of the conference will include a meeting to discuss homophobia in sport, which will look at the barriers to sportsmen and women coming out and the perceived anti-gay sentiment that still exists in sport despite major advances in equality over the last decade.

TUC General Secretary Mr Barber said: “Professional sport remains one of the last bastions of homophobia and transphobia.

“Unions are now joining the campaign to rid sport of this bigotry and intolerance, so that sportsmen and women no longer face harassment, intimidation, ridicule, violence or ostracism simply because of their sexuality.”