Sir Keir Starmer to appear at Limmud Festival

Sir Keir Starmer is to attend this year’s virtual Limmud Festival.

The Labour leader will discuss topics including the antisemitism row in his party, Brexit and rebulding ties with the community.

This comes after the publication of a report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which found evidence that Labour had broken equalities law.

During the recent Jewish Labour Movement One Day Conference, Starmer criticised his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, who was suspended for saying antisemitism had been “dramatically overstated” in wake of the report’s publication. His suspension was lifted, but Starmer declined to restore the parliamentary whip.

Speaking at the JLM event, Starmer said: “I can’t tell you how disappointed I was with Jeremy Corbyn’s response, because what he said, coming from the former leader of the Labour Party, was just about as bad as you can get”

At Limmud Festival, which takes place from 25 to 29 December, he will be in conversation with Carolyn Bogush, Chair of the Limmud Trustee Board.

Festival Chair Rob Simmons said: “This announcement is evidence that Limmud Festival 2020 will engage the Jewish community in the key issues facing us today, bringing the highest-level speakers to you at home.

“We are excited to welcome Sir Keir and hundreds of other speakers including politicians, historians, scientists, journalists, writers, artists and many more to our landmark five day event.”

Joining the Labour leader and more than 1,000 other participants who have signed up already, are speakers including Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid, Chief Rabbi Mirvis, historian Deborah Lipstadt and former MP Louise Ellman.

Tickets for the festival can be purchased online.