Bridget Phillipson has struggled to justify Labour’s position that anti-genocide protests are ‘un-British’:

Susanna Reid: “Are you suggesting that protesting against Israel in itself is antisemitic?”

Bridget Phillipson: “No… but” #GMB pic.twitter.com/Us0kBx3Q5t

— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) October 7, 2025

It highlights Labour’s convoluted position on the genocide, with ministers speaking out against the atrocities their government continues to facilitate:

Surreal, Labour’s leadership repeatedly said the UK is not selling arms to Israel

But Israel’s tax authority shows the value of UK arms sales to Israel

Shame on Labour – thank you #C4News for doing what others dont bother to do pic.twitter.com/PRdsGhx0IB

— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) October 6, 2025

The protests continue despite Labour’s attempts

Figures on the British right are increasingly trying to label anti-genocide protesters ‘antisemitic’. Their accusation is that protesters don’t care that Israel is committing televised atrocities on a daily basis; they actually just hate Jews, and they see Israel as the manifestation of global Judaism. While it’s generally agreed that conflation of Jewish people with the actions of Israel is antisemitic, the right think it’s okay to engage in the practice if you’re defending Israel:

Dan Hodges: “I’m conflating criticism of Israel with attacks on Jews.”

Almost all Zionist fanatics do this, but not many Zionist fanatics are dumb enough to just openly admit what they’re doing. https://t.co/AIU0eDVuXO

— Asa Winstanley (@AsaWinstanley) October 4, 2025

Following the horrific synagogue killing in Manchester, British journalists became increasingly incensed that anti-genocide protests would continue. Of course, it’s an entirely consistent position to be against genocide and the killing of Jewish people. The right wanted the protests to stop because in doing so they would coerce a tacit admission that the anti-genocide protests are antisemitic in nature.

The protests are not antisemitic, though; the protests are in fact supported by many Jewish people, and the protesters were right no to back down.

Convoluted response

In the video at the top, Susanna Reid says:

I’m just not sure whether telling students who want to protest what is happening in Gaza at the level of loss in Gaza will respond to the Prime Minister telling them it’s ‘un-British’. And I’m just not sure what the definition in that case of un-British is. And if you are saying that they are a threat and a risk, why you don’t simply say they are unlawful rather than un-British?

In her response, Phillipson says:

I share that deep sense of anguish and pain about what we see on our television screens, the appalling suffering that we see, including experienced by children in Gaza, which just reinforces the need to get an end to the war, to get more aid into Gaza with a real sense of urgency. And we all want that to happen. And that’s what we as a government are pushing to happen.

As highlighted, the value of UK arms to Israel hit record highs in June. Phillipson cannot share the same ‘anguish and pain’ as the rest of us, because if she did she wouldn’t be a prominent figure in a government which is continuing to arm a genocidal rogue nation.

Phillipson continued:

But today of all days, if we could just pause and reflect about where we are, what happened on October the 7th, and just feel that sense of compassion towards one another.

The protests will stop when Labour stops supporting the genocide.

Don’t you dare talk about ‘compassion’ when your party has used its position to ensure the atrocities continue. And as Reid said in response:

Is it not possible to do the two things at the same time, Minister? Is it not possible to have compassion for the Jewish community and what they have suffered, and also be entitled to exercise a legitimate and lawful right to protest what Israel is doing in Gaza, the Israeli government.

Are you suggesting that protesting against Israel in itself is antisemitic?

At this point, Phillipson started blinking heavily as she tried to remember Labour’s current talking points, which are:

No, and the right to protest in our country is a fundamental right which we all benefit from, which we hold incredibly dear and it’s a cornerstone of our democracy. But just because you have the right to protest does not mean that you should protest every day, including on days like this.

And I also feel a deep sense of horror at what I see on my television screens, the suffering of people in Gaza, including children.

And that shows why we desperately, desperately need to get more aid in, why we need to see the hostages released and a move towards a two-state solution.

Depravity

Public opinion has turned against Israel and its actions, which means labelling the opposition ‘antisemitic’ would suggest the British public is antisemitic. This is a nonsense, of course, and Labour aren’t silly enough to do that.

Sadly, they are evil enough to carry on sending military supplies to Israel, which is why the protests must continue.

Free Palestine.

Featured image via Good Morning Britain

By Willem Moore

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