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Rachel Riley suffers abuse after speaking out about antisemitism within Labour

Countdown presenter said she was called 'Tory, brainwashed and thick' after tweeting about Jew-hate

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Rachel Riley has received a barrage of abuse for discussing antisemitism online and responding by saying: "Sometimes I think it’s important to speak up even so. If moderates don’t, all that’s left are the others.”

The Countdown presenter, who has called herself a "non-religious Jew", said on Tuesday “spot the difference between Labour leaders” and compared side-by-side a message from London Mayor Sadiq Khan, wishing the Jewish community happy new year, and a headline showing that Jeremy Corbyn praised as his “very good friend” - someone who wrote pro-Palestine graffiti on the walls of the Warsaw ghetto and called for Israeli MPs to be assassinated.

Ms Riley subsequently tweeted a number of articles on antisemitism in the Labour party, which detailed examples from some of Mr Corbyn’s most vocal supporters.

In response to an avalanche of tweets, she said: “Much as I appreciate being called Tory, brainwashed and thick, I don’t have any party loyalties, I form my opinions based on available evidence.

"Religion wise, I choose Man United. Life wise I choose the options without intolerance, hatred and fear. #AntiSemitism”

She added: “My genuine worries are that antisemitism is spreading and being actively promoted among some in the hard-left due to JC’s [Jeremy Corbyn’s] words/actions/inactions. I hope I’m wrong but many replies I’ve had tonight suggest perhaps not.”

She also recommended the BBC documentary We Are British Jews, screened last week, for anyone who “wants to hear grown up conversations on fears over antisemitism, Israel and Palestine.”

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