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
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.”
Don't care so much that Dan White has left Twitter after this awful reply to Keir Starmer's Passover message yesterday.
I do care if he is still on ITV's diversity board. Any comment @ITV? pic.twitter.com/C2eHKEu5ey
— Mike Katz (@mikekatz) April 6, 2023
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.
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.”
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