News
Labour’s ‘chilling’ video about supporting minority groups leaves out Jewish community
The chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council, described the video as ‘extraordinary and chilling’
December 1, 2019 10:10
The chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council, described the video as ‘extraordinary and chilling’
December 1, 2019 10:10The Labour Party has been criticised for producing a video about minority groups being valued by the party that leaves out any mention of the Jewish community.
The promotional video which claims “diversity is our greatest strength” is over a minute long and features a speech made by Dawn Butler, the shadow equalities secretary, in which she says Labour will support people who wear “a hijab, turban,” or a “cross.”
Jonathan Goldstein, who is chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council, described the notable lack of mention of the Jewish community as “extraordinary and chilling.”
Speaking to the JC he said: "To deliberately create and promote a video which talks about minority communities in this current climate and not mention the jewish community really shows the blind spot that the Labour Party has.
"It shows they don’t regard the jewish community or antisemitism as equal to other communities or racism of other types. You can not think anything other than that is chilling.
"If this is what they are like in opposition imagine what they would be like in government."
Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, described the video as “extraordinary.”
Others on social media pointed out that the video which makes an appeal to minority communities makes no attempt to include the Jewish community.
A spokesperson for the Board of Deputies said: “This video gets to the heart of Labour’s problems with the Jewish community.
"The Jewish community is 'erased' as a minority group worthy of their support. The plea for Labour to recognise and then tackle the racism facing our community is met only with contempt.”
This is our strength. pic.twitter.com/nabBzTK0AB
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) November 30, 2019
The impassioned speech, which pledges support to those who are in social housing be they LGBT+, straight, or a traveller, goes on to say it will support those who struggle to pay the rent.
Among the long list of communities Labour said it will support are those who are “are black, white, or asian.”
Ms Butler’s speech goes on to say: “If you are disabled, if you are old, if you are young, if you don’t have a trust fund, if you didn’t go to Oxbridge, if you are working class, if you are under 18, if you are aspirational, if you work, if you are a carer, if you feel you won’t live beyond 25, if you have ever ticked the other box, you have a future, and you are worthy.”
In the speech Ms Butler said the groups mentioned were “worthy of equality, worthy of dignity, and worthy of respect, and a Labour government will value you.”
The Labour Party is currently under formal investigation by The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
The equalities watchdog is investigating over whether the party has unlawfully discriminated against, harassed or victimised people because they are Jewish.
