CAA writes to Glastonbury Festival and its partners over planned screening of pro-Corbyn propaganda film
Campaign Against Antisemitism is writing to Glastonbury Festival and its partners over the Festival’s planned screening of a propaganda film about the antisemitic former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
The Festival’s Official Connectivity Partner is Vodafone, with whom it announced a “multi-year partnership” earlier this year, and its Official Media Partners are listed as the BBC and The Guardian.
The Festival’s website links to a description of the film, titled Oh, Jeremy Corbyn! The Big Lie, which says that it “explores a dark and murky story of political deceit and outrageous antisemitic smears.”
Also linked is a trailer of the film, in which one interviewee questions whether Mr Corbyn was brought down by an “orchestrated campaign”.
The film’s contributors include a who’s who of controversial figures such as Jackie Walker, who has previously stated that Jews were “chief financiers” of the African slave trade; the filmmaker Ken Loach, who caused outrage when, during an interview with the BBC, he refused to denounce Holocaust denial. Both were expelled from the Labour Party; Graham Bash, the Political Officer of the antisemitism-denial group and sham Jewish representative organisation Jewish Voice for Labour; and Moshe Machover, a professor and Holocaust revisionist. All have been expelled from the Labour Party, although Mr Machover was readmitted.
Also involved is Andrew Murray, a close adviser to Mr Corbyn who, in 2005, authored an article in which he claimed that the roots of the 9/11 terror attacks lay in “Zionist colonialism” of the Balfour Declaration.
The film is narrated by comedian Alexei Sayle who claimed in 2014 that BBC presenter Emma Barnett, who is Jewish, supported the murder of children following an article and radio interview in which she had decried antisemitism amongst anti-Israel activists.
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Festival-goers should be allowed to enjoy the live performances without fear of indoctrination from antisemitism-deniers. Screening a film which not only denies that antisemitism in the Labour Party was a serious problem but actively paints a picture of a nefarious campaign being orchestrated against someone who allowed antisemitism to run rampant, has no place at an arts festival, and only serves to alienate Jewish ticket-holders. Glastonbury Festival and its sponsors must ensure that such propaganda is not shown.”
Campaign Against Antisemitism has lodged a complaint against Jeremy Corbyn, holding him responsible for conduct that is prejudicial or grossly detrimental to the Labour Party, as the Leader during the period of the EHRC’s shameful findings. Given the serious detriment that this conduct has caused, we are seeking Mr Corbyn’s immediate resuspension and, if the complaint is upheld, we will be requesting his expulsion. On the day of the publication of the EHRC’s report, we also submitted a major complaint against Mr Corbyn and other sitting MPs. These complaints are yet to be acknowledged by the Party, and they must be investigated by an independent disciplinary process that the EHRC has demanded and Sir Keir has promised but has yet to introduce.
