Home Office alerted to communal fears over Roger Waters UK concerts
Penny Mordaunt MP noted the 'shocking' examples of 'antisemitism' at the ex-Pink Floyd star's concerts, raised in the Commons by Labour's Christian Wakeford, saying she would inform the home office
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
The Home Office is to be alerted to concerns raised by Jewish communal organisations and an MP about antisemitic imagery used by the rock star Roger Waters ahead of a series of concerts in the UK, it has been confirmed.
Leader of the Commons Penny Mordaunt said she was “very shocked” to hear Labour MP Christian Wakeford reveal the concerns of local Jewish constituents in Bury South about gigs by the ex-Pink Floyd frontman at Manchester’s AO Arena.
Conservative MP Mordaunt said she would “make certain” the home office heard the concerns of Wakeford after he told the Commons that when Waters performed in Berlin this week he was “dressed as an SS soldier” and had “used the Star of David on a giant pig to insinuate that Jewish people rule the world.”
The Jewish Representative Council of Manchester had issued a statement condemning Waters “divisive actions”, Wakeford noted.
The MP added he believed “concerts like this have no place in our society and should not go ahead.”
Responding, Mordaunt said she was sure “the whole House was very shocked to hear” what Wakeford, who also wrote to the owners of the Manchester’s AO arena, had said.
She added:”I shall make certain the the home office has heard the honourable gentlemen’s concerns today” adding “great efforts” had been made to ensure “the scourge of antisemitism is addressed and stamped out from our country.”
On Wednesday the Board of Deputies had also raised concerns about Water’s forthcoming concert tours across the UK.
They noted Waters “long history of vile comments towards the Jewish community from his talk of the ‘Jewish lobby’ in the UK” to claims people in the UK and America “bear responsibility for the actions of Israel.”
The Board added it was “very concerning that someone with a history of such comments will shortly be appearing at venues around the country.”
Roger Waters has a long history of vile attacks against Jewish people. His recent shows in Berlin show why he should not be welcome in Manchester.
My letter to the AO Arena outlines why his concert next month should not go ahead. pic.twitter.com/vvcug5kJPE
— Christian Wakeford MP (@Christian4BuryS) May 25, 2023
Waters was also accused of a “new low” after using graphics on his current tour that compare the death of Palestinian Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh with that of Anne Frank, the Jewish girl diarist who died in the Belsen Nazi death camp.
Jewish Leadership Council co-chief executive Claudia Mendoza tweeted in response to the images:“I didn’t think it was possible but this is a new low for Roger Waters.”
The Community Security Trust’s Dave Rich added:”Appropriating the memory of Anne Frank to make an anti-Israel point is antisemitic. I shudder at the thought of this grotesque display being shown in British arenas when his tour comes here. ”
At one stage in the gig, the ex-Pink Floyd star appeared on stage dressed in an SS uniform. The stunt was claimed to be a satirical one, challenging authoritarianism and threats to freedom of speech.
A journalist at the gig tweeted:”Anne Frank, ‘criticism of Israel’ and SS uniforms – Roger Waters presents his ideological worldview in the Mercedes-Benz arena. a bizarre three-hour political performance with monotonous pink floyd cover versions and populist slogans.”
Pressure was also mounting on the Picture House cinema chain to screen Waters like gig from Prague on Thursday May 25th in all their cinemas.
The chain did not respond to Jewish News request for comment on this decision to screen the concerts live.
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