Maxine Peake, who shared antisemitic conspiracy theory, attends JVL annual conference and describes it as “wonderful”
Maxine Peake, the controversial activist-actress who shared an antisemitic conspiracy theory earlier this year, has reportedly attended the annual conference of Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL), the antisemitism-denial group and sham Jewish representative organisation.
The conference featured numerous controversial figures, including the notorious antisemite and expelled Labour member Jackie Walker; as well as senior JVL figures such as co-Chair Jenny Manson, Media Officer Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, and Secretary Glyn Secker; Cllr Jo Bird, infamous for comments about “Jew process”; and Graham Bash, who is Ms Walker’s partner and has been investigated by Labour over comments about “Jewish exceptionalism”.
It is understood that on leaving Sunday’s AGM, Ms Peake remarked that “this has been just wonderful. Thank you all so much. I sadly have to leave, but feel inspired and educated.” Glyn Secker, said: “Thank you very much, Maxine.” Another attendee apparently remarked: “Great to have you on board.”
There was reportedly some controversy at the meeting over the involvement of non-Jews in the organisation. Cllr Bird apparently said: “Please could solidarity members respect that this meeting is a rare and valuable space for Jewish members to debate with each other. Your observations would be welcome later.” She later feared that such ‘solidarity members’ were continuing to “prioritise their contributions over Jewish members.” Two attendees apparently complained that as “non-Jews” JVL’s constitution prohibited them from voting.
Campaign Against Antisemitism has previously urged the BBC to take Ms Peake off the air for promoting an antisemitic conspiracy theory.
On 28th May 2019, the Equality and Human Rights Commission launched a full statutory investigation into antisemitism in the Labour Party following a formal referral and detailed legal representations from Campaign Against Antisemitism, which is the complainant.
In the first release of its Antisemitism in Political Parties research, Campaign Against Antisemitism showed that Labour Party candidates for Parliament in the 2019 general election accounted for 82 percent of all incidents of antisemitic discourse by parliamentary candidates.
Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2019 showed that antisemitism on the far-left of British politics has surpassed that of the far-right.
Campaign Against Antisemitism advocates for zero tolerance of antisemitism in public life. To that end we monitor all political parties and strive to ensure that any cases of concern are properly addressed.
