‘Corbynista mayor’ sparks anger after hosting Ken Loach theatre event

A left-wing Labour mayor has sparked anger amongst Jewish groups after staging an “In Conversation” event with the film director Ken Loach.

Jamie Driscoll, a supporter of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who was elected as North of Tyne mayor in May 2019 to “put socialist policies into practice” hosted Loach for an event at Live Theatre on Newcastle Quayside on March 14th.

Loach was expelled from the Labour Party in 2021  over his membership of a proscribed group that downplayed antisemitism claims.

The Jewish Labour Movement have now called for Driscoll – dubbed “the last Corbynista in power” to ” explain why he gave a platform to such a disgraced figure – and apologise.”

Promoting the event afterwards on social media, the mayor said: “We talked favourite films, books and our views on life.”

Asked about making an online recording available Driscoll told followers on his Facebook page “we’re still editing but it’ll be available soon.”

He was praised by another follower online for staging the Loach event who wrote:”Hope you stick with your values, not like Starmer.”

The mayor and the film director are known to be close friends, and have staged events together in the past.

Loach, was expelled from the Labour Party  over his membership of a proscribed group that downplayed antisemitism claims.

He drew anger in 2017 at a fringe event at Labour conference, after a speaker reportedly questioned whether the Holocaust could be discussed, and when asked if it was acceptable, he said: “I think history is for us all to discuss, wouldn’t you?”

At the same event he added: “The founding of the state of Israel, for example, based on ethnic cleansing, is there for us all to discuss, so don’t try and subvert that by false stories of antisemitism”.

In the 1980s Loach had been director of the hugely inflammatory play Perdition – which centred around claims of Zionist collaboration in the Holocaust.

His expulsion from Labour centred on his support for the Labour Against The Witchhunt (LATW) group for which he has also acted as a sponsor.

In an interview last year Driscoll responded to claims he was the last pro-Corbyn figure to hold power saying:”“I’d prefer to stop being called the most powerful Corbynista in power, and just be – Jamie Driscoll is a socialist in power.”

A Jewish Labour Movement spokesperson said: “Ken Loach decided it was more important to support people who consistently downplayed and denied the extent of antisemitism in Labour than support efforts to tackle it. That’s why he’s no longer a member of the Party.

“Loach has a track record of Holocaust inversion, tropes about a lobby controlling media and politics and claims Jews exploit the Holocaust for political ends. If you think he’s a good socialist, you need to take a long hard look at your definition of socialism.

“Quite how anyone – let alone the most senior regional leader in the north east – can think that it’s OK to organise an event with someone with this disgraceful views and track record is beyond us. There is no ignorance here, Mr Loach’s views are known and therefore it is a choice. This will be hugely upsetting for Jewish party members and the Jewish community in the north east.

“Mayor Driscoll urgently needs to explain why he gave a platform to such a disgraced figure – and apologise.”

Driscoll told Jewish News: “I spoke with Ken Loach as part of the Live Theatre’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Mr Loach has chosen the North East as a location for his most recent film ‘The Old Oak’ as well as his previous films, ‘Sorry we missed you” and “I, Daniel Blake”.

“During the event, we participated in a lively and engaging discussion about his critically acclaimed films, work and illustrious career.”