ITV ‘diversity board’ member posts online attack at Starmer’s goodwill message to UK Jews
search

The latest Jewish News

Read this week’s digital edition

Click Here

ITV ‘diversity board’ member posts online attack at Starmer’s goodwill message to UK Jews

Dan White tells Jewish News he 'can only apologise for ill-timing of tweet' in response to the Labour leader's 'warm wishes' to the community ahead of Pesach

Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor

Jewish News publicised Labour leader Keir Starmer attending a mock seder for new Pesach video
Jewish News publicised Labour leader Keir Starmer attending a mock seder for new Pesach video

A member of ITV’s”diversity board” has been accused of making a “gratuitous, misplaced attack on British Jews” after he condemned a tweet Keir Starmer in which the Labour leader sent his “warmest wishes” to the Jewish community ahead of Pesach.

Dan White, whose own Twitter biog advertising his role for ITV, was responding a post by Starmer, who had retweeted a Jewish News article detailing the Labour leader’s latest festival video to the community, adding “Today I am sending my warmest wishes to members of the Jewish community as you prepare to celebrate the festival of Pesach.”

But in a clear conflation of Starmer’s goodwill message to Jews in this country, with the ugly violence at the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, White wrote back to Starmer saying:”Did you see what happened at Al-Aqsa mosque while Palestinian worshippers are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan? Your silence is disgusting.”

Asked to explain his comments, White, told Jewish News:”I can only apologise for the ill timing of my tweet.

“I am not and never have been antisemitic.

“My response was not aimed at the community, but at the silence from all political parties around the conflict which is happening.

“I accept my response was badly timed, I can only apologise profoundly for it. My mental health sometimes makes snap decisions. As I said I am believer in peace, worldwide. I am sorry again for the ill timing and any offence”

He deleted his Twitter account after the tweet was widely criticised.

Dan White

Mike Katz, the Jewish Labour Movement’s national chair, said White’s actions were “a gratuitous, misplaced attack.”

Katz added:”British Jews shouldn’t be held responsible for the action of the Israeli government, much less should a political leader be attacked for wishing us Chag Sameach.

“It’s deeply concerning that Mr White doesn’t recognise this yet he apparently holds a national broadcaster to account on matters of diversity.”

The performer and commentator Marlon Solomon also retweeted White’s Starmer post simply saying:”Absolute state of this”.

Further promoting his role at ITV on his LinkedIn page White states:”Proud as well to be a member of the ITV Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

“Suggesting content, reviewing production and planning news and events coverage.”

On a further online biog White is said to be “an accomplished, in-demand, regular broadcaster, and countywide speaker, appearing on Sky, Radio 2, ITV, C5, LBC and the BBC, as well as conferences across the country, discussing the need for absolute equality and more.

“He is also the creator, illustrator, and writer of the globally popular Department of Ability comic, which features five disabled superheroes. ”

ITV confirmed to Jewish News on Thursday:”Dan is a member of the ITV Meridian diversity panel and we don’t have any further comment at this time.”

Support your Jewish community. Support your Jewish News

Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.

For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.

Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.

You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.

100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...

Engaging

Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.

Celebrating

There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.

Pioneering

In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.

Campaigning

Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.

Easy access

In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.

Voice of our community to wider society

The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.

We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.

read more: