CAA welcomes Corbyn film cancellations

BY DAVID SAFFER

Campaign Against Antisemitism has welcomed further cancellations of a propaganda film about the former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Screenings of the film Oh, Jeremy Corbyn!

The Big Lie at Tolpuddle Village Hall, Basildon Council and a Lewes pub are the latest following sustained CAA pressure regarding the controversial film.

Tolpuddle were set to shown the film this month. According to Tolpuddle Radical Film Festival, organisers hoped to show the film at the annual festival, but withdrew due to “censorship by the secretary”. They screen the film independently at the Village Hall but the booking was cancelled.

Basildon Council was scheduled to show the film at George Hurd Activity Centre as was the ‘Elephant & Castle’ pub in Lewes.

In all three cases the booking is understood to been made by a third party, not the venue. CAA understands all were unaware of the nature of the film.

A CAA spokesperson said: “The antisemitism-denial film is rank propaganda and features a who’s who of controversial figures. It 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, to the extent that the Party was found to have broken the law, and only serves to alienate Jewish members of the communities where the film is being screened.

“Many venues that we have contacted are not aware of the film's true nature and purpose, and are appalled when it is brought to their attention. We will continue to write to venues across the country to inform people about what is taking place.”

News of the cancellations follows the Glastonbury Festival, pub retailer Greene King, YMCA and Widcombe Social Club cancelling screenings.

And trade union Unite has reportedly banned screenings of the film on its premises.

A ‘meagre’ crowd did watch the film at Glastonbury. CAA described viewers as a “few cranks” and dismissed its impact after footage of the screening appeared online without knowledge of festival organisers.

A CAA spokesperson noted: “The organisers heeded our call and rightly thought better of screening this antisemitism-denial film. Unsurprisingly, in their desperation a few cranks were determined to air this propaganda at all costs, but the turnout was meagre.”

CAA believe their campaign has been successful.

A spokesman explained: “It speaks volumes about how much has changed in our public discourse that, only a few years after Corbyn himself was given the main stage at Glastonbury and embraced by Michael Eavis, now the rump of Corbynist antisemitism-deniers are pathetically forced to arrange clandestine viewings of this movie in their tent.”

CAA applauded Greene King for cancelling two screenings in Bournemouth and Widcombe Social Club where filmmaker Ken Loach, who refused to denounce Holocaust denial during a BBC interview, was due to speak.

CAA’s campaign began when they wrote to Glastonbury organisers and its primary sponsor, Vodaphone. A public outcry followed. CAA argued festival-goers should enjoy performances without fear of indoctrination from antisemitism-deniers. A trailer showed an interviewee questioning whether Corbyn was brought down by an “orchestrated campaign”.

A Glastonbury spokesperson said organisers recognised it was “not appropriate” to screen the film. “Glastonbury is about unity and not division, we stand against all forms of discrimination,” they stated.

A CAA spokesperson explained at the time: “The film should never have been considered for screening, as this kind of gaslighting of the Jewish community was at the heart of why the Equality and Human Rights Commission found that the Labour Party had illegally created a hostile environment for Jews.”

CAA noted film contributors included Loach along with Jackie Walker, who has reportedly said that Jews were “chief financiers” of the African slave trade, Graham Bash, Political Officer of antisemitism-denial group Jewish Voice for Labour and Holocaust revisionist Professor Moshe Machover. All have been expelled from the Labour Party. Machover was readmitted.

CAA also pointed out that Andrew Murray, a close adviser to Corbyn, in 2005, claimed that roots of the 9/11 terror attacks lay in “Zionist colonialism” of the Balfour Declaration.

CAA has outstanding complaints against Corbyn and other sitting MPs, during the period of the EHRC’s findings, to be acknowledged by the Party.

CAA has called for an investigation by an independent disciplinary process demanded by the EHRC.