Questions remain over Show Racism the Red Card’s event with Ken Loach

Questions remain over if Ken Loach will appear on a panel judging entries to an anti-racism educational charity’s school competition.

Show Racism the Red (SRTC)’s board of trustees refused to endorse “the executive decision” to involve Loach in the wake of “new information”, according to a brief statement released on Monday.

SRTC invited Loach last month to judge designs inspired by the theme of anti-racism alongside the Jewish children’s author Michael Rosen as part of its schools competition, an annual contest launched in 1998, which drew some 27,000 entries last year.

The charity has not returned multiple requests for information.

The statement comes after criticism from the Board of Deputies over SRTC’s earlier decision to uphold the invitation despite concerns from Jewish leaders.

The Board of Deputies took to Twitter on Monday, demanding further details about the decision and any future involvement with Loach.

The representative body, which demanded an apology from the charity for allegedly “ignoring its serious concerns about antisemitism,” suggested its CEO and trustees receive antisemitism training from the anti-extremism organisation Hope Not Hate.

In a statement earlier this month, apparently deleted from its website, the leading charity had described Loach as a “long-standing” supporter and the recipient of its Hall of Fame award for his volunteering work spanning two decades.

It had noted “kind” messages of support from the public and “many prominent figures in academia, the arts, education, law, media, politics, science and sport”.

Loach drew controversy in the spring of 2018 when he called on the Labour Party to suspend MPs who appeared at the Enough is Enough rally against antisemitism outside Parliament.

Among other concerns, the Board of Deputies criticised his 1987 production of Jim Allen’s controversial play Perdition, saying it was seen as “wildly inaccurate by leading historians and … grossly antisemitic by many in the Jewish community.”

Loach was contacted for comment.