The BBC has come under scrutiny for banning its staff from participating in the inaugural nationwide march against antisemitism, anticipated to draw tens of thousands of attendees in Central London. The Times has more.
Rachel Riley, the Countdown presenter, and the comedian David Baddiel are among those joining the march, which has been described by the Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, as an opportunity for ordinary people to “stand shoulder to shoulder” with British Jews in the face of a surge in antisemitism in the U.K. since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
Police expect about 50,000 people to attend the march, which is being organised by the Campaign Against Antisemitism charity, partly in response to the almost weekly pro-Palestine protests in Central London since the October 7th Hamas massacre.
Tom Tugendhat, the Security Minister, urged the BBC to reconsider its position after it reportedly described the demonstration as “controversial”.
Staff in news and current affairs, factual journalism and senior management who had sought permission to attend the Central London march were told their presence would breach BBC guidelines on impartiality. The same rules also apply to employees in these areas who might want to attend a pro-Palestinian protest.
When staff suggested such guidelines should not apply to a march against antisemitism, it was reportedly pointed out that Sunday’s event could still be deemed to be a “controversial march or demonstration”.
In a post on Twitter/X, Tugendhat said: “There’s nothing ‘contentious’ about standing up to antisemitism. I hope the BBC reconsiders.” …
The march, which leaves from the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand at 1.30pm, is being billed as the biggest gathering against antisemitism since the 1936 Battle of Cable Street against Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists.
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