Sacha Baron Cohen’s brother is expelled from Labour
EXCLUSIVE: Amnon Baron Cohen, a former active member of Hornsey and Wood Green CLP, was expelled over his involvement with the far-left Socialist Party
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
One of actor Sacha Baron Cohen’s older brothers has been expelled from the Labour Party over his involvement with a proscribed organisation.
Amnon Baron Cohen confirmed to Jewish News he had been ousted from Labour over his involvement with the Trotskyist Socialist Party, who were previously better known as Militant.
Amnon, a computer scientist, was spotted attempting to sell copies of the far-left political party’s newspaper The Socialist in Parliament Square on Monday.
But he confirmed he had previously been an active member of the Hornsey and Wood Green constituency Labour Party, (CLP) until his expulsion “for membership of a proscribed organisation.”
Speaking to Jewish News, Amnon said he was “indeed” the brother of Ali G star Sasha.
He also said his ousting from Labour had been “great” because “I don’t have to sit through these boring party meetings anymore.”
Hugely successful comedian and movie star Sasha has two older brothers, Erran, a composer within whom he regularly collabaorates, and Amnon.
They grew up in west London, to parents Gerald, an editor turned clothing store owner, and mother Daniella, a photographer.
Amnon became heavily involved with his local Labour Party after moving to Muswell Hill, according to former friends.
His name appears as a signatory of a letter published on the pro-Jeremy Corbyn Jewish Voice for Labour website in March 2018 which expressed concen about the “worrying trend” of “denouncing fellow Jews for antisemitism.”
One Labour member told Jewish News that during the 2017 general election Amnon had infuriated officials in his local party by knocking on the doors of Jewish voters and telling them they were wrong for voicing opposition to Corbyn.
On Monday, Amnon attempted to convince Israeli and British Jews attending the recent anti-Netanyahu protests to buy his newspaper, as he distributed leaflets printed in English and Hebrew.
Commending the mass demonstrations that have taken place in Israel, the leaflet called for “workers organisations like the Histadrut and other trade unions” to “bring down the capitalist government of ultra-nationalist settler zealots.”
Amnon also told Jewish News he wrote regularly for The Socialist on Israel and Palestine.
Explaining the Socialist Party’s position on Israel he said:”Weare against any kind of nationalism, be it British nationalism or whatever.
“But we say Israel has a right to exist.
“We are for a socialist Israeli state. But the only way the security of Israel can be achieved and secured is by a socialist Israel alongside a socialist Palestine.”
He was also scathing of the rival far-left Socialist Workers Party’s position on the Middle East and Israel.
In an article written for the latest edition of the The Socialist, Amnon welcomes the large-scale demonstrations taking place in Israel, and in the UK against Benjamin Netanyahu’s “racist” coalition government.
But he suggests the leadership of the Defend Israeli Democracy movement has been “seized by capitalist establishment figures”.
He also attacks what he describes as the “corrupt” Palestinian leadership in the same article.
Socialist Party membership these days is a fraction of that enjoyed during the group’s heyday in the 1970s and 80s.
In recent years it has stood candidates at elections as part of the wider Trade Unionist and Socialist`Coalition (TUSC).
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.
