United Kingdom Labour Party Fights Antisemitism

By Chloe Elder ‘24
United Kingdom Labour Party leader Keir Starmer is working to reduce antisemitism in the UK. 

Following Starmer’s election as party leader in 2020, he has attempted to rebrand the Labour party, apologizing to Britain’s Jews for previous leader Jeremy Corbyn’s many antisemitic comments. However, the public and experts are unsure whether an apology is enough to undo Corbyn’s legacy of hate. 
In his time as Labour Party leader, Corbyn made many antisemitic claims, sparking harsh criticism from UK Jews. Although no longer in office, many Jews fear that Corbyn’s agenda will continue to gain popularity.
In 2018, Corbyn was criticized for questioning the removal of an antisemitic mural, which depicted stereotypical Jewish businessmen playing a board game on the backs of the working class. Corbyn insisted on Facebook that the mural not be removed– the same platform on which he was found to be involved with antisemitic and pro-Palestinian Facebook groups. 
“I have become numb to the situation because so many people are showing that they are antisemitic and while it is really hurtful, it is not very surprising,” said junior Maya Taylor-Prince.
Corbyn later apologized, saying, “I sincerely regret that I did not look more closely at the image I was commenting on, the contents of which are deeply disturbing and antisemitic.” However, this statement failed to redeem him, with Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Luciana Berger, deeming Corbyn’s apology as “wholly inadequate.”
Following Starmer’s election, some Jews were fearful he would hold the same antisemitic views as Corbyn. However, UK Jewish Leadership Council Secretary Claudia Mendoz came to Starmer’s defense, stating that the new opposition leader, “has acted in good faith and with actions to match his words” and that he “has been unequivocal in his stance against antisemitism because he knows that for the party to be taken seriously again, it needed this issue to be dealt with.” 
GOA junior Rebecca Altmann said, “It is so relieving to see public figures get called out for their unacceptable behavior.”
Starmer himself commented that Corbyn’s Labour had “failed Jewish people,” adding that he was “truly sorry for all the pain and grief that has been caused.” He later said that “never again” would Labour treat the Jews so poorly. 
Senior Minister Michael Gove pushed back on Starmer’s comments, saying, “Many people will rightly worry about your failure to speak out and challenge the Labour leadership at the time.” Gove also criticized Starmer on why it took him years to react to antisemitism within the party, only doing so when he became party leader.
“I think he should have said something sooner,” said junior Adina Feuer. “Why would he not want to gain popularity from the Jewish people?”
Starmer is not the only political figure to have been suspected of performative activism. Paul Embery, British author and political commentator, believes that while many politicians were genuinely concerned about the prejudice in the political party, there were some who “chose to weaponise the issue because they loathed Corbynism and wanted rid of it.” Although said politicians still spoke out against antisemitism within Labour, their motivations for doing so were corrupt. 
Junior Sam Reinhard said, “I am glad that [Corbyn] got criticized for his antisemitic views, although I question if the people who called him out truly believed he was bad, or if they were using him for their own personal gain.”