Countdown star faces ‘thick’ jibes
RACHEL RILEY has received a barrage of abuse for discussing antisemitism online and responded 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”, on Tuesday asked her Twitter followers to “spot the difference between Labour leaders”.
She 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 proPalestine graffiti on the walls of the Warsaw ghetto and called for Israeli MPs to be assassinated.
Ms Riley went on to tweet a number of articles on antisemitism in the Labour Party, which detailed examples from some of Mr Corbyn’s most vocal supporters.
This led to an avalanche of protest on Twitter.
She responded by saying: “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. #Anti- Semitism”.
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.” 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.”